Myotonic dystrophy (Steinert disease): a morphologic and biochemical hair study

Background Myotonic dystrophy is a systemic genetic disorder. with dominant transmittance. It is characterized by generalized progressive muscular abn ormality. Although frontoparietal alopecia is one of the most common sympto ms in myotonic dystrophy, it has not received much attention. Methods We examined 25 subjects from two families: 10 patients were affecte d by Steinert disease and 15 were not. The various morphologic and biochemi cal hair alterations are reported. Results All investigated subjects (affected or not) presented the same type of morphologic and biochemical hair alterations. Conclusions These findings could be used to construct a hypothesis to expla in the cause of the disease.