[Erythrocyte phospholipids in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (author's transl)].

The different fractions of erythrocyte phospholipids determined in eleven patients suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in six possible or probable heterozygous carriers do not differ significantly from those observed in controls. Distribution of their fatty acids shows a reduced amount of palmitoleic acid (C16 : 1) in total fatty acids, in sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine. The same anomaly is observed, but less significant, in the heterozygous carriers. The C20 : 0 acid is increased in sphingomyelin. Some overlap occurs between results determined in hemizygous or in heterozygous carriers and in controls. These anomalies in fatty acid distribution, if confirmed, may help a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and perhaps be useful to its detection.