Many forms of muscular dystrophy are associated with disorders of the dystrophin-associated protein complex.
Muscular dystrophy, the result of mutations in the genes that encode for dystrophin and the associated proteins that binds to it can arise in various forms. The most common form is known as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is usually discovered in early childhood and is most often seen occurring in males. There are several associated symptoms that can be observed in such patients including but not limited to a delay in walking and sitting, difficulty in breathing and heart failure. These symptoms are found as a result of the inability to synthesize dystrophin and associate protein complexes that leave muscles weak and unable to repair any damaged sustained. These perpetually weak muscles prohibit normal physical activity.