Dystrophin is present in all muscles, including skeletal, cardiac and respiratory muscle.2,4,5 Dystrophin is a structural protein that provides mechanical stability5–7
Once muscle is lost it cannot be replaced.2,10,12 The absence of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy results in ongoing muscle damage, and replacement of muscle fibres by scar tissue and fat12
By the age of 5, prominent muscle weakness becomes evident with a 50–60% drop in strength14
By age 6, only 60% of predicted muscle mass is retained, decreasing to just 20% at age 1615
Early intervention is critical to help delay disease progression and treat potentially life-threatening complications.2,8–10
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