Pulmonary function and scoliosis in Duchenne dystrophy.

Pulmonary function data were evaluated in 68 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients to determine the rate of decline of the percentage of normal forced vital capacity (FVC). The percentage of normal FVC declined most rapidly during the adolescent growth spurt, which demonstrated a need for an accurate and reliable means for determining height in these patients. The age at 35% of normal FVC was 14.9 +/- 3.6 years (2 SD), and survival for the 28 patients who died was 3.2 (range 0.2-5.7) years. Pulmonary function tests were performed 10-74 months after spinal stabilization on 21 Duchenne dystrophy patients and compared with 46 nonfused scoliotic Duchenne patients. No difference was found in the rate of deterioration of the percentage of normal FVC.