While ALS is typically encountered in the second half of life,DMD is the most common, fatal muscle wasting disease of childhoodwith a birth prevalence of up to 19.5 per 100 000 live births.10 It is an X-chromosome linked recessive diseasecaused by mutations (most commonly deletions) in the dystrophin gene.The ensuing absence/reduction in the cytoskeletal protein dystrophinresults in muscle damage caused by repeated contractions. This evidence concerns the gene DMD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.