Calf hypertrophy and asymmetry in female carriers of X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy: an over-diagnosed clinical manifestation.

The height, weight and calf sizes of 19 carriers of X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy were compared with 32 normal female controls of comparable age. Whereas the regression of the sum of right and left calf sizes on weight was highly significant in both groups, the difference between right and left calf size showed no significant association with weight, height or age. There was no significant difference between carriers and controls in the sum of calf sizes either before or after correction for weight by Analysis of Covariance and no significant difference between the two groups in the degree of asymmetry of right and left calf size.