Blood Test
Many blood tests are available to find out the causes of muscle weakness or monitor respiratory problems in spinal muscular atrophy. Two common options include:
– Arterial blood gas: This test collects blood from the artery to measure the levels of oxygen. It can indicate whether you have breathing issues or not. You can do the test in a rehab setting or hospital.
– Creatine kinase: This blood test is done when you have symptoms of breathing issues or muscle weakness. It measures the levels of protein, which would be increased when muscle damage occurs. Creatine kinase is often near-normal or normal in people with spinal muscular atrophy. [2]
