Asymptomatic Becker muscular dystrophy: histological changes in biopsied muscles

The histological changes observed in consecutive tests of biopsied muscles from an asymptomatic patient with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are reported. The first biopsy showed active muscle necrosis and clustered regenerating fibers. The second biopsy revealed chronic myopathic changes mixed with neurogenic involvement. It is stressed that active myogenic changes observed in younger and asymptomatic BMD patients were followed by chronic myogenic or neurogenic change with age. Finally, we confirm the necessity of checking for dystrophin of abnormal size or reduced abundance by immunoblot analysis.