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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.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Revised May 6, 2010

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: /2, 10 1
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