Cortical excitability in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

To investigate the probable cortical excitability changes in DMD by electrophysiological means.

Sixteen cases with DMD, 10 age-matched control children (CC) and 10 healthy adult volunteers (AC) were studied with a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) test battery composed of central conduction time, cortical silent period and paired TMS paradigm.

There were no significant differences between DMD and CC groups except for lower amplitude motor responses in DMD cases. These two groups showed a similar pattern of excitability with less short interval intracortical inhibitions and shorter silent period durations as compared to the AC subjects.

The electrophysiological tests performed in our DMD patients did not reveal abnormalities caused particularly by the disorder.

TMS excitability studies performed in DMD boys may not provide findings other than those related to the developmental age.