[Influence of ouabain on the electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes in 7 patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy].

Measurements of electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes under the influence of ouabain were carried out on seven patients suffering from progressive Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. While ouabain-treated erythrocytes of healthy controls showed a significant decrease (alpha = 0.001) in electrophoretic mobility, an increase was found in five of the patients, and two patients revealed a slight drop in electrophoretic mobility. A significant difference (alpha = 0.001) was obtained in comparing the control group of patients. Initial trial measurements suggested that such a difference is also true for some other forms of muscular dystrophy and Werdnig-Hoffmann's spinal muscular atrophy.