A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) looks at the scientific studies on facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
FSHD is a genetic muscle disorder in which the muscles of the face, shoulder blades and upper arms are among the most affected and is the third most common form of muscular dystrophy (MD). While there is no cure for this disorder, health care providers need to be aware of and help to manage associated health problems. Genetic testing is available to confirm the majority of cases of FSHD.
The FSHD guideline is to be published in the July 28, 2015, online issue of
Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The
full guideline can also be found on AANEM’s website. This new guideline is based on the best available studies on FSHD, and can inform the public and clinicians about the best approach to managing and treating this disease.