[Progressive Duchenne muscular dystrophy: general practice aspects of diagnostic assessment]

The analysis of 57 cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) from W.-Germany outlined an average delay in motor development with an extended period of time between learning to stand and to walk. 33 patients could not walk when they were 16 months old. At the age of 27 months people without medical training generally noticed first symptoms. Unexpectedly often quantitative deficiencies in movements became evident. On average 26 months passed until DMD was diagnosed. To improve the situation, the authors propose a selective screening of boys who are not able to walk without help when they are 16 months old (90th percentile for healthy children).