Understanding and managing spinal muscular atrophy

The spinal muscular atrophies comprise a group of autosomal-recessive disorders characterized by degeneration of motor neurones causing muscle weakness (Kostova et al, 2007). It is estimated that about 1 million people in the UK are spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carriers and that approximately 1 in 20 000 babies are affected with severe spinal muscular atrophy, with both genders being affected equally (Iannaccone, 2007; Lunn and Wang, 2008).