Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This is the second edition of a book which considers Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in detail and critically evaluates the published literature. The author draws on his clinical experience and scientific knowledge to provide an account of one of the most common inherited diseases. After a brief historical introduction, the author describes the clinical features of the disease in detail, emphasizing the involvement of tissues other than skeletal muscle. The biochemistry, genetics and molecular pathology are discussed in the context of recent research findings, building a picture of the role of dystrophin in the pathogenesis of the disease. Prevention through neonatal screening, carrier detection, genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis is covered, stressing the importance of DNA markers and gene probes. Finally the book discusses the management of patients with the disease and the possibilities for treatment, which include surgical correction of deformities, new drug treatments, the prospect for myoblast transfer and the possibilities for gene therapy.