Brothers with Becker Muscular Dystrophy Show Discordance in Skeletal Muscle Computed Tomography Findings: A Case Report

Overview

Journal SAGE Open Med Case Rep

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Jan 8

PMID 38187815

Authors

Yoshinori Nambu

Taku Shirakawa

Kayo Osawa

Hisahide Nishio

Kandai Nozu

Masafumi Matsuo

Hiroyuki Awano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Becker muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations and is characterized by progressive muscle atrophy. The wide variations observed in muscle atrophy progression in Becker muscular dystrophy are considered multifactorial, including differences in mutations and environmental factors. In this case, two brothers, aged 2 and 3 years, had the identical mutation, confirming their Becker muscular dystrophy diagnosis. They began using handrails when ascending and descending stairs at the age of 16 due to progressive muscular weakness. Over an 18-year follow-up, the older brother consistently had high serum creatine kinase levels, significantly over median levels. Muscle computed tomography finings revealed that the older brother's gluteus maximus and vastus femoris cross-sectional areas were only half and one-third of the younger brother's, respectively. The mean computed tomography values of gluteus maximus and vastus femoris were significantly lower in the older brother. Our report suggests that muscle atrophy in Becker muscular dystrophy cannot be solely explained by dystrophin mutation or environmental factors.

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