Cardiac transplantation in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy carrier

Neuromuscul Disord. 1998 Dec;8(8):585-90. doi: 10.1016/s0960-8966(98)00071-6.

Abstract

We report here for the first time the case of a symptomatic DMD carrier, who had a heart transplant for a severe dilated cardiomyopathy. Dystrophin immunohistochemistry, western blot and analysis of X-chromosome inactivation on leucocytes, and skeletal and cardiac muscle biopsies on the explanted heart were performed. The patient was a heterozygote for exons 50-52 deletion in the dystrophin gene. The number of dystrophin-deficient fibres in the heart was much higher than in skeletal muscle. On the other hand, the explanted heart showed a non-skewed pattern of X-chromosome inactivation, as in leukocytes and skeletal muscle. The adverse cardiac course may be explained by the absence of regeneration among cardiomyocytes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / complications
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / metabolism
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / pathology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / surgery*
  • DNA / analysis
  • Dosage Compensation, Genetic
  • Dystrophin / genetics
  • Dystrophin / metabolism
  • Female
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Heterozygote*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscular Dystrophies / complications*
  • Muscular Dystrophies / genetics*
  • Muscular Dystrophies / metabolism
  • Muscular Dystrophies / pathology
  • Myocardium / metabolism

Substances

  • Dystrophin
  • DNA

Grants and funding