Erythrocyte surface membrane alterations.

Electrophoretic mobility measurements were made of red blood cells obtained from patients with Duchenne and myotonic muscular dystrophy, from dystrophic mice and chickens, and from corresponding controls. Alterations in the erythrocyte surface electrokinetic properties were found in dystrophic mice and chickens and in many, but not all, patients with muscular dystrophy. The results are consistent with the concept of muscular dystrophy as a systemic membrane disease not limited to muscle.