| Technical
Medical Terms: |
Definitions: |
|
|
| Neurological: |
|
| Bulbar
Signs |
The
Bulbar muscles are those
supplied by the motor nerves
coming off the brain stem
which control breathing,
swallowing, talking and
other functions of the
throat. Bulbar signs
are problems with these
functions. |
| Dysphagia |
Trouble
swallowing. (One of
the Bulbar signs.) |
| Intention
Tremor |
Hand
tremors when trying to do
something. |
| Normal
Babinski |
Normal
plantar response, ie., when
the bottom of the foot is
scraped, the toes bend down.
An abnormal response would
be an upward bendings of the
toes indicating a problem in
the brain itself. |
| Lower
Motor Neuropathy |
The
lower motor nerves are those
that run from the spinal
cord to the muscles that
they stimulate to move.
Loss of that nerve leads to
weakness and wasting of the
muscle. |
| Primary
Sensory Neuropathy |
Numbness
over certain areas.
Loss of sensation. |
|
Decreased
or Absent Deep Tendon
Reflexes
|
When
a doctor taps the knee with
his hammer and nothing
happens. |
|
|
| Muscular: |
|
| Fasciculations |
Twitching
of small muscles without
purposeful movement that can
be seen through the skin. |
| Cramps |
Large
muscle spasms. |
| Postural
Tremor |
Shaky
muscles with certain
positions. |
| Muscular
Atrophy |
Wasting
and shrinkage of muscles
that occurs when the lower
motor nerve does not
stimulate the muscle
adequately. |
| Hypertrophied
Calves |
Calf
muscles that become thicker
because of cramps. |
|
|
| Thoracic: |
|
| Gynecomastia |
Enlarged
breasts. |
|
|
| Endrocrine |
|
| Androgen
Deficiency |
Loss
of masculinizing effect. |
| Estrogen
Excess |
More
of an apparent estrogen
effect because of the lost
of masulinizing effect. |
|
|
| Genito-Urinary: |
|
| Impotence |
Erectile
dysfunction |
| Reduced
Fertility |
Low
sperm count |
| Testicular
Atrophy |
Testicles
become smaller and of
less functional. |
|
|
| Miscellaneous
Characteristics: |
|
| Late
Apparent Onset |
Usually
show symptoms late 30's and
after |
| Slow
Progression |
Near-normal
lifespan |
| Asymmetry
of Clinical Signs |
Muscles
of one side may be more
affected than the same
muscles on the other side. |
|
|
| Laboratory: |
|
| Elevated
Serum Creatine Kinase |
Elevation
of CPK enzyme in the blood
test. Can be confused
with the enzyme released
during a heart attack. |
| Genetic
Test |
The
Kennedy's Disease gene can
be found in the blood by a
genetic laboratory in both
affected males and carrier
females. |
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ABOUT KENNEDY'S DISEASE • KD Symptoms 
