About
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a group of inherited conditions that affect the motor neurons of the spinal cord. Motor neurons are specialized nerve cells that control the muscles used for activities such as breathing, crawling, and walking. In people affected by SMA, the loss of motor neurons leads to progressive muscle weakness. There are four primary forms of SMA which are classified based on the severity of the condition and the age at which symptoms begin. The symptoms and long-term outlook of each form vary widely. In general, forms of SMA with an earlier age of onset are more severe and have a greater impact on motor function. Early detection and treatment of SMA is important since studies suggest that therapy is most effective when started in the first few months of life.
Condition Type:
Core Conditions
Frequency:
Approximately, one in every 10,000 babies is born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
More Information for Parents:
Also known as:
- SMA
Core Conditions
- Propionic Acidemia (PROP)
- Methylmalonic Acidemia (Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase Deficiency) (MUT)
- Methylmalonic Acidemia (Cobalamin Conditions)
- Isovaleric Acidemia (IVA)
- 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency (3-MCC)
- 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaric Aciduria (HMG)
- Holocarboxylase Synthetase Deficiency (MCD)
- Beta-Ketothiolase Deficiency (BKT)
- Glutaric Acidemia, Type I (GA-1)
- Mucopolysaccharidosis, Type II (MPS II)
- Biotinidase Deficiency (BIOT)
- Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD)
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
- Classic Galactosemia (GALT)
- Hearing Loss or Varying Hearing Levels
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD)
- Pompe
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
- Mucopolysaccharidosis, Type I (MPS I)
Secondary
- Citrullinemia, Type II (CIT II)
- Hypermethioninemia (MET)
- Benign Hyperphenylalaninemia (H-PHE)
- Biopterin Defect in Cofactor Biosynthesis (BIOPT-BS)
- Biopterin Defect in Cofactor Regeneration (BIOPT-REG)
- Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency (OTC)
- Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase Deficiency (CPS)
- Tyrosinemia, Type II (TYR II)
- Tyrosinemia, Type III (TYR III)