Does My Child Have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? Take the Quiz.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy — sometimes referred to simply as Duchenne — is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle loss and weakness. It occurs as a result of gene mutations involved in the production of a protein called dystrophin, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Dystrophin helps keep muscle cells intact. Without it, progressive muscle weakness can cause mobility, growth, heart, and respiratory problems in children and shorten life expectancy.
The MDA reports that Duchenne affects about 6 out of every 100,000 people in the United States, making it the most common form of muscular dystrophy nationally.
“There are some unique circumstances where females are affected [by the disorder], but the overwhelming majority of those affected are boys,” says Barry J. Byrne, MD, Ph.D., a professor and associate chair of pediatric research at the University of Florida in Gainesville and the chief medical adviser for the MDA’s medical advisory team. “That’s because boys only have one X chromosome, which is where the Duchenne-causing gene mutation is,” he adds.
Learn more about Does My Child Have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? Take the Quiz.