Duchenne muscular dystrophy

noun

Du·​chenne muscular dystrophy dü-ˈshen- 

də-

: a severe progressive X-linked muscular dystrophy of males marked by early childhood onset and absence of the protein dystrophin

called also Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

compare becker muscular dystrophy

Examples of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The illness, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, initially manifests in childhood as trouble with strength and walking, then worsens until the heart or the muscles controlling the lungs stop working. —Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2024

The brand has donated more than 35,000 euros to nongovernmental organizations and medical foundations researching the likes of breast cancer, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 18 Sep. 2024

And a Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment, the linchpin of the portfolio, failed to show any benefit in a large trial last month. —Elaine Chen, STAT, 26 July 2024

That was a given, even before the Food and Drug Administration expanded approval of the company’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug on Thursday. —Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Guillaume Armand Duchenne †1875 French neurologist

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

noun

variants also Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

: a severe progressive form of muscular dystrophy of males that appears in early childhood, affects the muscles of the legs before those of the arms and the proximal muscles of the limbs before the distal ones, is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait, is characterized by complete absence of the protein dystrophin, and usually has a fatal outcome by age 20

—abbreviation DMD see becker muscular dystrophy