Frequency of cerebral infarction in patients with inherited neuromuscular diseases

We evaluated the frequency of cerebral infarction in 131 patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, Becker's muscular dystrophy, or Friedreich's ataxia. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 83% of patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, 56% with myotonic dystrophy, 50% with Becker's muscular dystrophy, and 25% with Friedreich's ataxia. Atrial flutter occurred in 2.3% of the patients, and atrial fibrillation in only 0.9%. Evidence of cerebral infarction was found in only 2 patients (1.5%). Both patients had cardiomyopathy and either atrial fibrillation or flutter. Despite frequent cardiac involvement, cerebral infarction is an uncommon occurrence in patients with inherited neuromuscular diseases.