
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Student research in Journal of Child Neurology
University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) students, Carter Butson and Nedeke Ntekim, recently had their research, Genetic Panel Reveals Co-Existing Neuromuscular Disorders in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, accepted for publication in the Journal of Child Neurology. Working under the guidance of Stephanie Acord, M.D., and Warren Marks, M.D., 353 genetic neuromuscular panels were analyzed. Among 32 patients identified with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), three (9.4%) were found to have a genetically confirmed clinically significant secondary neuromuscular disorder. DMD is a relentlessly progressive disorder resulting in progressive weakness, respiratory and cardiac failure and premature death. As there are new and expensive genetic treatments for DMD, recognizing secondary disorders has significant implications for both clinical trials and treatment plans. With more widespread use of expanded genetic testing, it's likely an even higher percentage of secondary conditions might be recognized.