[Erythrocyte changes (echino- and stomatocytic) in muscular dystrophy: research on possible applications in diagnosis and eugenics].

: The Authors, after a brief review of the factors which influence the echino and stomatocytic erythrocyte's deformations and of the biochemical basis of these alterations, report the comparative study of the echino-stomatocytogenesis in both normal subjects and myodystrophic patients. In order to investigate whether this phenomenon is more developed in pathological condition, the results confirm that between normal subjects and myodystrophic patients or healthy carriers there is a quantitative significant difference which can be utilized for diagnostic and eugenic purposes. To obtain reliable results, the evaluation should be made at regular intervals of time from the blood drawing and after the exclusion of the presence of other disease or echino-stomatocytogenetic factors (drugs, etc.).