Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare disease that causes muscles to grow weaker, beginning with the leg muscles. The disease is passed from a mother, who carries the gene but does not have the disease, to her son (X-linked).
Most boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy need a wheelchair by age 12 and die before age 20 of a lung infection or heart problems.
Author:Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Medical Review:Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine
Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
Last Updated: 05/29/2006
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