Spinal Muscular Atrophy: What Is SMA, Symptoms & Diagnosis, Expert Speaks, Watch Video

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) describes a group of disorders associated with spinal motor neuron loss. The different forms of SMA are associated with numerous gene mutations and significant phenotypic variability. SMA is usually categorized by a pattern of weakness whether predominantly proximal or distal and mode of inheritance. Spinal muscular atrophy type 0 is evident before birth and is the rarest and most severe form of the condition. Affected infants move less in the womb, and as a result, they are often born with joint deformities (contractures). They have extremely weak muscle tone (hypotonia) at birth. Their respiratory muscles are very weak and they often do not survive past infancy due to respiratory failure. We have an expert who will be talking more about SMA, Watch Video.