Phenotype-genotype analysis of dystrophinopathy caused by duplication mutation in Dystrophin gene in an African patient.

Background: The dystrophinopathies, duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy are common X-linked genetic myopathies resulting from mutations in the dystrophin gene. Duplication is an uncommon mechanism of mutation occurring in about 5% of DMD cases. The global prevalence of DMD is reported as 1/18,000 males. There is little clinical or epidemiological data on African patients.

Objective: To present the genotype-phenotype analysis of dystrophinopathy with an exon 8 through 9 duplication mutation in a patient of African/Ghanaian descent and his asymptomatic mother.

Methods: Investigations including a biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle and genetic testing of the patient and his mother.

Results: Genetic testing demonstrated a duplication of exons 8 through 9 of the dystrophin gene in both the patient and his mother. The muscle biopsy of the patient showed partial expression of the dystrophin protein. In the absence of a family history of dystrophinopathy, we hypothesize that this is a sporadic mutation occurring in the grand maternal lineage.

Conclusion: This case extends the world wide epidemiology of this disease to include the African/Ghanaian population and confirms the vulnerability of the dystrophin gene to recurrent spontaneous mutations at the exon 8 and 9 site.