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.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 14, 2008
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