The muscular dystrophies are inherited myogenic disorders characterised by progressive muscle wasting and weakness of variable distribution and severity. They can be subdivided into several groups, including congenital forms, in accordance with the distribution of predominant muscle weakness: Duchenne and Becker; Emery-Dreifuss; distal; facioscapulohumeral; oculopharyngeal; and limb-girdle whic...

In 1879 William Gowers, the eminent British neurologist, painted a remarkably lucid word picture of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in his series of lectures on pseudohypertrophic muscular paralysis, published in the Lancet.' This disease, he said, is one of the most interesting, and at the same time most sad, of all those with which we have to deal; interesting because of its peculiar features and...

The Mediterranean countries are distinguished with their peculiar genetic pool and diversities. Recessive diseases often present with their own founder mutations. In some instances this is shared with neighboring populations. Dominant disorders in the area are increasingly recognized as health care providing systems and technology improve. Among muscular dystrophies Duchenne and Becker types co...