Reliable detection of early myocardial dysfunction by tissue Doppler echocardiography in Becker muscular dystrophy.

B ecker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an X linked mutation of the dystrophin gene characterised by skeletal muscle dystrophy and progressive heart failure which frequently leads to a fatal outcome. Cardiac involvement is not accurately predicted by gene mutation and may occur in patients without muscle weakness. Consequently, systematic cardiac examinations are required. Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) allows accurate quantification of regional myocardial function and may be a reliable method for early detection of myocardial dysfunction in BMD.