Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of two families with Becker muscular dystrophy

In this study we evaluated two families with Becker muscular dystrophy and although the patients were completely asymptomatic and with normal ECG and echocardiogram, their left ventricular function was abnormal and the presence of subepicardial scar tissue was identified in the majority of them. The latter was also documented in one of the mothers, who had normal systolic function and was free of symptoms. Cardiac evaluation with cardiovascular magnetic resonance is sensitive enough to detect abnormal findings in BMD patients, missed by conventional echocardiography. Due to its ability to perform tissue characterization non-invasively, cardiovascular magnetic resonance can detect silent myocardial lesions in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.