WERDNIG-HOFFMANN DISEASE

Course overview

WERDNIG-HOFFMANN DISEASE IS A TYPE OF SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA). IT IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF SMA AND ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 80% OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS CONDITION. THIS IS THE MOST SEVERE FORM OF SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY, AND INFANTS WITH THIS CONDITION EXPERIENCE SEVERE MUSCLE WEAKNESS WITH ONSET BEFORE 6 MONTHS OF AGE, AND PRESENTING SYMPTOMS INCLUDE SEVERE MOTOR WEAKNESS, POOR MUSCLE TONE, AND LACK OF MOTOR DEVELOPMENT. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF WERDNIG-HOFFMANN DISEASE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.