Alexander M A, Johnson E W, Petty J, Stauch D
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1979 Jul;60(7):289-92.
Death in the late stage of Duchenne muscular dystrophy is most frequently a consequence of respiratory failure. Since muscles of ventilation become weakened the bellows mechanism fails insidiously. Patients exhibit symptoms of ventilatory insufficiency, the first to be noticed are those associated with CO2 retention: dyspnea, nightmares, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. Ten patients with late stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been supplied with mechanical aid for ventilatory assistance. The age of onset of respiratory distress needing mechanical assistance varied from 10 to 20 years. Meaningful survival after allegedly reaching the end stage has been from 2 to 7.5 years with an average of 3.4 years. With a caring family, these patients can have a meaningful life, even though they require continuous mechanical ventilatory aid.
杜兴氏肌营养不良症晚期的死亡最常见的原因是呼吸衰竭。由于通气肌变弱，呼吸机制会不知不觉地失效。患者会出现通气不足的症状，首先被注意到的是与二氧化碳潴留相关的症状：呼吸困难、噩梦、心率加快和血压升高。十名杜兴氏肌营养不良症晚期患者已获得机械通气辅助设备。需要机械辅助的呼吸窘迫发病年龄在10至20岁之间。在据称进入终末期后，有意义的生存期为2至7.5年，平均为3.4年。有了关爱他们的家庭，这些患者即使需要持续的机械通气辅助，也能过上有意义的生活。
