Muscular dystrophy connotes a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive wasting and weakness of the skeletal muscles. In several forms of muscular dystrophy, cardiac dysfunction occurs, and cardiac disease may even be the predominant manifestation of the underlying genetic myopathy. We present a case of progressive muscular dystrophy of the heart in which the initial and only manifestation was sudden death in a young man.
BajuszEHomburgerFBakerJROpieLH. The heart muscle in muscular dystrophy with special reference to involvement of the cardiovascular system in the hereditary myopathy of the hamster. Ann NY Acad Sci1966; 138: 213–229.
3.
YilmazASechtemU. Cardiac involvement in muscular dystrophy: advances in diagnosis and therapy [Review]. Postgrad Med J2012; 88: 290–299.
MilhoratATWolffHG. Studies in diseases of muscle: heredity of progressive muscular dystrophy; relationship between age at onset of symptoms and clinical course. Arch Neurol Psychiat1943; 49: 641–654.
6.
ZatuchniJAegerterEEMolthanLShumanCR. The heart in progressive muscular dystrophy. Circulation1951; 3: 846–853.
7.
Hough G deN Jr. Progressive pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. Report of results of treatment with adrenalin and pilocarpin with an analysis of twenty-eight cases. J Bone Joint Surg 1931;13:825. Available at: http://jbjs.org/article.aspx?articleid=7489. Accessed October 21, 2012.
8.
BachJR. Update and perspective on noninvasive respiratory muscle aids, part 2: the expiratory aids. Chest1994; 105: 1538–1544.
9.
MelaciniPFaninMDanieliGA. Myocardial involvement is very frequent among patients affected with subclinical Becker's muscular dystrophy. Circulation1996; 94: 3168–3175.