Cognitive dysfunction as the major presenting feature of Becker's muscular dystrophy

K. N. North, G. Miller, S. T. Iannaccone, P. R. Clemens, D. A. Chad, I. Bella, T. W. Smith, A. H. Beggs, L. A. Specht

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report four patients, currently aged 15, 17, 19, and 42 years, with X- linked dystrophinopathy who presented with mental retardation (IQ range, 60- 68) and psychiatric disturbance in the absence of muscle weakness. All patients had elevated serum creatine kinase and dystrophic changes on muscle biopsy. There were alterations in the size and abundance of dystrophin on immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in all cases, consistent with a molecular diagnosis of Becker's muscular dystrophy. Two patients had deletions of the dystrophin gene on DNA analysis. These findings suggest that Becker's muscular dystrophy may be associated with a predominantly neuropsychiatric presentation and that dystrophinopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained cognitive or psychiatric disturbance in males. Serum creatine kinase may provide an adequate screening test in this clinical situation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)461-465
Number of pages5
JournalNeurology
Volume46
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

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