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Muscle atrophy is the loss of skeletal muscle mass. It can be caused by immobility, aging, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system. Muscle atrophy leads to muscle weakness and causes disability.
Cases of severe muscle atrophy or destruction may render the muscle too weak to show any reflex and should not be confused with a neuronal cause. [citation needed] Hyporeflexia may have other causes, including hypothyroidism, electrolyte imbalance (e.g., excess magnesium), and drug use (e.g, depressants). [1]
The mainstay of treatment is large quantities of intravenous fluids. [3] Other treatments may include dialysis or hemofiltration in more severe cases. [4] [10] Once urine output is established, sodium bicarbonate and mannitol are commonly used but they are poorly supported by the evidence. [3] [4] Outcomes are generally good if treated early. [3]
Steroid-induced skin atrophy is thinning of the skin as a result of prolonged exposure to topical steroids. In people with psoriasis using topical steroids it occurs in up to 5% of people after a year of use. [ 5 ]
There are currently no approved medications for the treatment of sarcopenia. [41] Testosterone or other anabolic steroids have also been investigated for treatment of sarcopenia, and seem to have some positive effects on muscle strength and mass, but cause several side effects and raise concerns of prostate cancer in men and virilization in women.
muscle atrophy; fasciculations; Some patients have symptoms restricted only to the arms or legs (or in some cases just one of either). These cases are referred to as flail limb (either flail arm or flail leg) and are associated with a better prognosis. [1]
Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include mutations (which can destroy the gene to build up the organ), poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, excessive amount of apoptosis of cells, and disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself.
Treatments may include braces or wheelchairs, pacemakers and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. [2] The medications mexiletine or carbamazepine can help relax muscles. [ 2 ] Pain, if it occurs, may be treated with tricyclic antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).