Deletion of the Dystrophin Muscle-Promoter Region Associated with X-Linked Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Several forms of hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy have been identified; with the exception of those resulting from mutations of mitochondrial DNA,1,2 no pathological finding can be used to differentiate the conditions, so their distinction depends on the pattern of transmission. Autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, and matrilinear forms have been reported; several families with X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy have also been described3–5. X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy is a progressive myocardial disease presenting as congestive heart failure in teenage boys without clinical signs of skeletal myopathy5. No information is available on the pathogenetic defect involved in this disorder, although cardiomyopathy is . . .