Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.

Emery-Dreifuss dystrophy, an X-linked disorder, is a recently recognized distinct neuromuscular disease with special pediatric implications. We describe three affected boys with the typical early contractures and weakness. Two patients are from a large kindred that includes older affected males and carrier females, both of whom had lethal cardiac disease by mid-adulthood. The atrial arrhythmias are treatable by pacemaker if the diagnosis is established beforehand.