On the possible role of muscle in the pathogenesis of spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) are characterized by degeneration of motoneurons of the anterior horn of the spinal cord, leading to progressive symmetrical limb and trunk paralysis associated with muscular atrophy. It is a rather frequent inherited disease (1 in 6000 newborns). SMA have been divided into three clinical forms depending on the clinical severity: type [...]