Detection and identification of myoglobin in serum by immunoblotting. Effect of exercise on patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The diurnal changes and the effect of pre- and postexercise on serum myoglobin (Mb) levels and creatine kinase (CK) activity were investigated and compared in 11 male patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and 11 normal male controls. The Mb levels and the CK activity in patients with DMD were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than in the controls under both resting and exercise conditions. No correlation was found between serum Mb levels and CK activity in patients with DMD. The results indicate that Mb is also a useful parameter in both the RIA and the immunoblotting technique for diagnosing muscle-fiber degeneration and screening DMD.