X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Motor functions and prognosis

69 patients with x-linked Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) were included in a retrospective investigation from 1975-1986. A mean profile of the decline of the motor functions was made by using the median age at which the patients were unable to perform specific motor functions by request. It was found that 81.2% of the personal profiles followed the pattern shown in the mean profile of the disease and that DMD is progressing in a uniform way, but with a different progression rate in every DMD patient. Good correlation between two motor functions made it possible to predict a personal prognosis of the decline of the motor functions in the DMD patient. No correlation between late walkers (later than 18 months) and rapid progression was found.