The Significance of Decreased Body Potassium Concentrations in Patients with Muscular Dystrophy and Nondystrophic Relatives

PATIENTS with muscular dystrophy and also some of their nondystrophic relatives, particularly mothers and female siblings, have diminished total-body potassium concentrations.1 , 2 The diminution of body potassium in these patients appears to correlate with the severity of muscle involvement. On the other hand, the reduced body potassium concentrations observed in some nondystrophic relatives have suggested a biochemical trait with possible genetic implications.There are several possible explanations for such diminished levels of body potassium. It would be logical to assume that the dystrophic patient's loss of body potassium is related to the gradual replacement of normal muscle tissue by potassium-poor fat . . .