Duchenne muscular dystrophy
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.
Current as of: November 20, 2019
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Siobhan M. Dolan MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics