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Prevalence of Neuromuscular Diseases in Chinese Children: A Study in Southern China

Division of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China

Virginia Wong, MBBS(HK), MRCP (UK)

Division of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China, vcnwong{at}hkucc.hku.hk.

Patrick Ip, MBBS

Division of Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China

Our objective was to study the prevalence of neuromuscular diseases in Chinese children. A prospective study of neuromuscular diseases in Chinese children was conducted from 1985 to 2001 in Hong Kong, which is a city in southern China. The population census of June 30, 2001, was used to calculate the prevalence of neuromuscular diseases in Chinese children. Altogether, 332 children aged < 19 years at first assessment with neuromuscular diseases confirmed by using electromyography, muscle biopsy, and/or molecular genetic study were included in the study. Of these, 228 (68%) had inherited and 104 (32%) had noninherited neuromuscular diseases. Of the inherited neuromuscular diseases, the most common were the dystrophinopathies, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (n = 66) and Becker muscular dystrophy (n = 8). Spinal muscular atrophy was the second most common (n = 61). Of the noninherited neuromuscular disorders, myasthenia gravis was the most common (n = 62, 60%). Nearly 88% of the cases of myasthenia gravis were ocular type. The prevalence rate of neuromuscular diseases in June 2001 (n= 291 surviving) is estimated to be 214 x 10^—6. The estimated prevalence rate of neuromuscular diseases in our Chinese children is 1 in 4669. (J Child Neurol 2003; 18: 217—219).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 18, No. 3, 217-219 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/08830738030180030201


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