Introduction: Muscular dystrophies are inherited disorders, produced by a genetic mutation, with a slow or rapid progression, that basically affect striated muscle tissue. There are several clinical forms, the most frequent being Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy.
Aim: To analyse how muscular dystrophies have been portrayed in literature, cinema and television.
Development: Muscular dystrophy is a disorder that has been reflected in literature, cinema and television. In some cases it is only mentioned, sometimes it plays a secondary role in the plot, and in others it is the lead character who suffers from the disease. In general, reference is made to Duchenne's disease and, albeit less frequently, to Becker muscular dystrophy, although in some cases the patient is just said to be suffering from muscular dystrophy, without specifying what clinical variety it belongs to. Testimonials, novels, comics, fiction films, documentaries, short films and television programmes have all been produced with the aim of making the disease and its implications more widely known, as well as making the public aware of the need to invest resources in research.
Conclusions: Muscular dystrophy has been portrayed quite realistically in literature, cinema and television, and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is the clinical variety that has been shown most often. Aspects that have been reflected include its symptoms, progression, prognosis, the role of the family and caregivers, sexuality, palliative care, patients' will to overcome difficulties and the need to raise society's awareness of the condition and to invest more resources in research.
Title: Las distrofias musculares en la literatura, el cine y la television.
Introduccion. Las distrofias musculares son enfermedades hereditarias, producidas por una mutacion genetica, lentas o rapidamente progresivas, que afectan fundamentalmente a la musculatura estriada. Existen diversas formas clinicas, y las mas frecuentes son la distrofia muscular de Duchenne y la distrofia muscular de Becker. Objetivo. Analizar como se han representado las distrofias musculares en la literatura, el cine y la television. Desarrollo. La distrofia muscular ha sido reflejada en la literatura, el cine y la television. En algunos casos solo se menciona, en otros tiene un papel secundario en la trama y en otros es un personaje principal el que sufre la enfermedad. Generalmente se hace referencia a la enfermedad de Duchenne, y con menos frecuencia a la de Becker, aunque en algunos casos solo se menciona que el paciente presenta distrofia muscular, sin especificar a que variedad clinica pertenece. Podemos encontrar obras de testimonio, novelas, comics, largometrajes de ficcion, documentales, cortos y programas televisivos que pretenden dar a conocer la enfermedad y sus implicaciones, y concienciar a la poblacion sobre la necesidad de invertir recursos en la investigacion. Conclusiones. La distrofia muscular ha sido representada con realismo en la literatura, el cine y la television, y la distrofia muscular de Duchenne es la variedad clinica que se ha mostrado mas habitualmente. Se han reflejado los sintomas, la evolucion, el pronostico, el papel de la familia y los cuidadores, la sexualidad, los tratamientos paliativos, el espiritu de superacion, y la necesidad de concienciar a la sociedad y de invertir mas recursos en investigacion.