Frequency of cerebral infarction in patients with inherited neuromuscular diseases.

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Abstract
We evaluated the frequency of cerebral infarction in 131 patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, Becker's muscular dystrophy, or Friedreich's ataxia. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 83% of patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, 56% with myotonic dystrophy, 50% with Becker's muscular dystrophy, and 25% with Friedreich's ataxia. Atrial flutter occurred in 2.3% of the patients, and atrial fibrillation in only 0.9%. Evidence of cerebral infarction was found in only 2 patients (1.5%). Both patients had cardiomyopathy and either atrial fibrillation or flutter. Despite frequent cardiac involvement, cerebral infarction is an uncommon occurrence in patients with inherited neuromuscular diseases.