Progressive muscular dystrophy: Functional improvement after a renal allograft

Abstract From his first years a child showed signs of a primary and rapidly developing muscular dystrophy. The diagnosis was established by an increased serum CK level and by electromyography and muscle biopsies. Afterwards this child developed a severe renal deficiency which needed binephrectomy and the graft of a normal kidney. During the few months just after the graft, the disability increased and the patient could not stand upright by himself. Later on, he gradually became able to walk on his own and without bracing. He could climb stairs and stand up from the floor. The CK activity returned to normal. At present, 4 years after the graft (the patient is 16 years), the improvement of his functional abilities is constant, although the CK activity has increased again. In this article we give evidence that this patient suffers from a primary muscular dystrophy. We discuss the type of dystrophy concerned. We believe that it is the graft of a normal kidney which was responsible for the improvement observed, and not the physiotherapy or the drugs administered after the graft.