Dystrophy is a disease that results in the loss or accumulation of substances in the body’s tissues that are not characteristic of a normal condition.
Damage to cells and intercellular substance leads to the fact that the diseased organ ceases to function adequately. The basis of this disease is a violation of trophism (a series of processes that ensure the vital activity of body cells).
Development reasons
Such a pathology has many different reasons. This can be hereditary metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, stress and mental problems, reduced immunity, gastrointestinal tract malfunctions, malnutrition, negative effects of various factors, chromosomal and somatic diseases.
It is erroneous that dystrophy is a disease that affects only premature babies. The development of such a pathology can provoke prolonged starvation or an excess of carbohydrate-containing foods in the diet. The cause of congenital dystrophy may be too young or, conversely, the elderly mother.
Symptoms
Depending on the form and severity of the disease, there are three degrees that are characterized by certain symptoms.
The first degree - the patient has a decrease in body weight and muscle tone, tissues become less elastic, immunity is impaired, problems with stool are possible.
The second degree - against the background of a progressive decrease in body weight, it is thinning, subcutaneous tissue may even disappear, the body suffers from a lack of vitamins.
The third degree - the body is completely depleted, the person’s breathing and heart function are disturbed , body temperature and blood pressure decrease.
In addition, all forms of dystrophy are accompanied by common symptoms: the patient is overly excited, he has decreased or lack of appetite, sleep disturbance, general weakness is felt, changes in body weight, gastrointestinal disorders, and immunity are reduced. At the same time, the person does not suspect that he has dystrophy, the symptoms are attributed to overwork or stress.
Classification
The disease is classified according to several criteria. So, by origin, the pathology is congenital and acquired, by the prevalence of the process - local or general, by the type of metabolic disturbance, protein, fat, carbohydrate dystrophy is distinguished. Depending on where the process is localized, the disease can be cellular (parenchymal), extracellular (mesenchymal, stromal-vascular) and mixed.
In addition, such species as hypotrophy, hypostature and paratrophy are distinguished.
Hypotrophy is the most common form of the disease. It is congenital and acquired. It is characterized by insufficient body weight in relation to the growth of the patient.
With paratrophy, an excess of body weight is observed, which is caused by a violation of nutrition and metabolism.
Hypostatura is expressed in the same lack of weight and height in accordance with the norms for a certain age.
Congenital Dystrophy
This condition is the result of hereditary metabolic disorders of proteins, fats or carbohydrates. When a child lacks any enzyme in the tissues or organs, an accumulation of incompletely split metabolic products occurs. Regardless of the localization of the process, tissue damage to the central nervous system always occurs, which leads to death.
Depending on the localization, the following types of this pathology exist:
Cellular (parenchymal) fatty degeneration
This is a problem that occurs when a metabolic disorder occurs in the group of cells that are responsible for the functioning of the organ. Among the causes that provoke the development of the disease, hypoxia, infections, intoxication (especially alcoholic beverages), poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency can be noted.
One example of such a pathology is liver dystrophy. It manifests itself in the inability of liver cells to perform their functions, which leads to their replacement with adipose tissue. This can cause inflammation and cirrhosis.
Severe consequences are acute as well as toxic form of this disease. The first condition has rapid development, the result may be liver failure. Toxic dystrophy of the liver is the cause of necrosis of its cells.
Dystrophy of the heart is another example of cellular fatty degeneration. In this case, myocardial damage occurs, its functions are impaired. The heart grows in size, the myocardium becomes flabby, yellow, stripes appear on the side of the endocardium due to uneven deposition of fat. Fatty degeneration of the heart occurs as a result of hypoxia (oxygen starvation), infections that lead to metabolic disorders, malnutrition.
Protein parenchymal dystrophy
It is divided into several types:
- Hyaline droplet degeneration is characterized by the accumulation of protein drops in the kidneys (sometimes the liver or heart suffers). This occurs with kidney diseases such as myeloma, glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis. The disease proceeds secretly and leads to irreversible consequences.
- With hydropic (hydropsy) dystrophy in organs (liver, adrenal glands, myocardium, epithelial cells), an accumulation of drops of protein fluid occurs. With an excess of them in the cell, balloon dystrophy occurs (the nucleus is displaced to the periphery). Violations of water-salt metabolism, hypoproteinemia, edema, infectious diseases and intoxication can cause a similar condition.
- Horny dystrophy is characterized by the formation of a horny substance where it cannot be, or excessive accumulation where it should be in a normal amount (skin, nails). Vitaminosis, skin malformations, viral infections, chronic inflammation can provoke such a disease.
Dystrophy of the nails can be the result of infections, skin diseases, malfunctions of the digestive tract, endocrine or central nervous system. In addition, this pathology sometimes accompanies some diseases of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
Dystrophy of the nails can be congenital and acquired. With the congenital form of the disease, a complete absence, thinning and thickening of the nail plate can be observed. Acquired disease is characterized by a gradual exfoliation of the nail plate, a deepening or whitening of the nails. In addition, the nail plate may be excessively convex, with transverse and longitudinal grooves. The causes of this disease can be eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus, nail injury.
Horny dystrophy has several types:
- Hyperkeratosis is an excess of horny substance on the skin.
- Congenital hyperkeratosis of the skin called ichthyosis. The body of the newborn is covered with thick skin that resembles the scales of a fish.
- Leukoplakia - a disease in which mucous membranes become keratinized. This affects the cervix, esophagus, oral cavity, etc.
Parenchymal carbohydrate dystrophy
It is the result of metabolic disorders of glycogen and glycoproteins. Impaired glycogen metabolism is characteristic of pathologies such as diabetes mellitus or glycogenosis.
Due to impaired glycoprotein metabolism in the cells, mucins and mucoids (mucous membranes) accumulate. This happens with diseases such as rhinitis, gastritis, bronchitis, etc.
Extracellular (mesenchymal) dystrophy
It develops in the stroma (the basis consisting of connective tissue) of organs. At the same time, all tissue and blood vessels are involved in the process. An example is retinal dystrophy. The disease can be either congenital or acquired. A person's visual acuity decreases, it is difficult for him to navigate in the dark. At the final stage of the disease, retinal detachment, or pigmented dystrophy occurs. Often, the cornea is also involved in the process.
Corneal dystrophy is characterized by its clouding, decreased sensitivity and visual acuity. It can be hereditary and acquired. The disease progresses rapidly, capturing both eyes, so timely diagnosis is very important.
Symptoms that you should pay attention to are pain and a foreign body sensation in the eyes, redness of the eyes, lacrimation, fear of light, decreased vision.
Secondary dystrophy of the cornea occurs as a result of trauma. It may also be a consequence of vitamin deficiency, previous collagen diseases, congenital glaucoma.
Muscle dystrophy is a condition characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Most often there are two types.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Mostly found in children. With this disease, an increase in the calf muscles occurs due to deposition of fat and proliferation of connective tissue. The disease is very severe and develops rapidly, by the age of 12 the patient loses the ability to move. Few live longer than twenty years.
Steinert's disease
Most common in adults. The disease can be inherited, manifests itself at any age. Among the first symptoms can be noted myotonia (after contraction, the muscles relax very slowly) and weakness of the facial muscles. Muscle dystrophy progresses slowly, affects smooth muscles and heart muscle.
With protein mesenchymal dystrophy, the human liver, kidneys, spleen and adrenal glands can be affected. In older people, the heart and brain work.
Stromal vascular fatty degeneration is the occurrence of painful nodal deposits on a person’s extremities (for example, Derkum’s disease). The disease can be local and general, provoke both the accumulation of substances and their loss.
Mesenchymal carbohydrate dystrophy can result in swelling, swelling, or softening of a person’s joints, bones, and cartilage.
Treatment and prevention
After an accurate diagnosis is established, it is necessary to immediately begin treatment of this disease, depending on its type and severity. The specialist will help you choose the treatment tactics, but with any type of dystrophy, it is necessary to organize proper patient care, eliminate all factors that can provoke complications.
In addition to carrying out the main treatment, it is also necessary to observe the regimen of the day and adhere to a strict diet ascribed by the doctor; walks in the fresh air, water procedures, physical exercises are mandatory.
To prevent this pathology, it is necessary to carefully monitor your own health, if possible, eliminate all negative factors that can provoke dystrophy of any kind.
Strengthen immunity, eat rationally and balanced, exercise and avoid stress - this will be the best prevention of not only this, but also many other diseases.