[Gene deletion analysis in molecular diagnosis of Duchenne-Becker muscular dystrophy]

Deletion analysis of the dystrophin gene (Xp21) was carried out by examinations of the most frequently deleted 18 exons (3., 4., 6., 8., 12., 13., 17., 19., 43., 44., 45., 47., 48., 49., 50., 51., 52. and 60. exon) and the muscle specific promoter in 42 Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) affected patients with multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 22 (52%) of 42 patients were found to have one or more exon deletions. 9% BMD patients (milder allelic form) were found in the deletion group versus 35% in the non deletion group. This method seems to be useful for prenatal genetic diagnosis in the family of deletion patients.