[Erythrocytes' deformations in primitive muscular dystrophies (author's transl)]

On the light of previous reports on a possible correlation between echinocytogenesis and primitive muscular dystrophies, we have investigated the presence and time dependent development of echinocytes in the blood of normal subjects, patients and healthy carriers of D.M.D. A very few echinocytes are present in the fresh blood of all the patients and some carriers, but not in the blood of control normal subjects. With time, more echinocytes develop in all cases but much more markedly for sick people and carriers. These results might explain conflicting data on the echinocyte content in the blood reported in the literatura and provide a guideline for a correct analysis of the phenomenon and its possible relevance in the eugenetic diagnosis of carriers.