Decreased Body Potassium in Nondystrophic Relatives of Patients with Muscular Dystrophy

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Abstract
EARLIER studies in patients with muscular dystrophy have shown a diminution in total body potassium that appeared to be correlated with the severity of muscle involvement.1 , 2 More recent studies have shown a similar depression in body potassium in some normal relatives of these patients.3 In addition, the usual physiologically constant relation between total body water and potassium, which is markedly altered in dystrophic subjects, is also slightly altered in unaffected relatives with decreased body potassium levels.4 MethodsStudies were performed on 47 patients with muscular dystrophy of the Duchenne or limb-girdle type, ranging in age from twelve to sixty-four years, . . .