THE CONTRIBUTION OF ASSAYS FOR LYMPHOCYTE CAPPING AND CREATINE-KINASE TO DETECTION OF THE BECKER-TYPE DYSTROPHY TRAIT

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (6) , 754-759
Abstract
Members of 3 unrelated families with the mild Becker type of muscular dystrophy were subjected to lymphocyte capping tests and measurements of serum creatine kinase activity. Both tests correctly identified all 9 affected males, but only the capping test was abnormal in 7 of 8 obligate carriers. The number of capped cells in carriers and affected persons with the Becker-type dystrophy was generally intermediate between those observed for individuals with the Duchenne trait and normal controls, thus potentially aiding in the differential diagnosis between the 2 myopathies. The lack of sensitivity of measurements of serum creatine kinase activity in identifying carriers is further complicated by the difficulty of establishing reliable reference intervals for this enzyme in 204 healthy controls. Detailed directions for the performance of the capping test are presented.