Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies: an Estonian experience

The clinical and molecular features of 25 Duchenne (DMD), two intermediate (D/BMD) and three Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophy patients from 26 unrelate d families were evaluated. Early psychomotor development was normal in pati ents with D/BMD and BMD, Learning to walk independently after 15 months of age was a risk sign of DMD in nine (36%) patients. Abnormality in crawling was seen in 13 (54%)patients with DMD. These boys demonstrated initial symp toms earlier than those who learned to crawl normally. Mental retardation w as established in five (20%) patients with DMD. Deletions in the dystrophin gene were found in 11 families (48%), They were accumulated (9/11, 82%) in the distal region of the gene. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.