RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a specific technique for diagnosing and classifying Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and neurologic dystrophy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-seven cases were detected by immunofluorescence technique for analyzing dystrophin located in skeletal muscle cell membrane with the use of mouse monoclonal antibodies, goat and rabbit polyclonal antibodies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The normal individuals showed ringed positive staining stripe around muscle fibers. Negative result of staining was seen in 16 DMD patients. Eleven BMD patients had discontinuous or a patchy positive staining pattern, and all of 10 FSHD and 10 neurological amyotrophic patients showed positive dystrophin staining.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detecting dystrophin in the skeletal muscle cell membrane of muscular patients is an efficient technique for diagnosing and classifying various types of muscular dystrophy.</p>