Five other patients are due to receive similar injections in a study to determine whether gene therapy is safe. Ohio State, the University of Pennsylvania, Emory University, the University of Iowa, the University of Rochester, Vanderbilt University and Washington University are conducting the study. Decker suffers from limb-girdle muscular dystrophy a progressive form of the disease that is concentrated in the hips and shoulders. It can be fatal if the heart and respiratory muscles are involved. The new genes will be delivered to Decker's muscles through a virus that will not replicate in the body.
Doctors plan to conduct a biopsy in six weeks to determine if the treatment was effective.
Neurologist Jerry Mendell, who delivered the injection in a 30-minute procedure, says it may represent a breakthrough in treatment. The procedure was developed by Hansell Stedman of the University of Pennsylvania, who has two brothers born with the disease. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is planning to show a film of Decker during this weekend's Jerry Lewis Telethon. K Fl gstad . Visit the Sales and advertising .for advertisement information.