Measurements of calcium and other elements in muscle biopsy samples from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium content of needle biopsy samples of human muscle from control subjects and patients with various neuromuscular disorders has been analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The calcium content of muscle from both patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other myopathies was significantly elevated compared to both normal and patient control subjects. Muscle sodium content was not significantly altered in any group compared to control subjects. Decreased magnesium and potassium levels were found in muscle from patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, although the muscle magnesium/potassium ratio was unchanged, the most likely explanation for this being non-specific loss of intracellular components from the cell.