COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio is now the first state in the nation to begin screening newborns for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday.
The provision was included in the state’s budget bill signed by DeWine in July 2023. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) was added to a list of 40 other rare medical conditions in the Ohio Department of Health’s Newborn Screening program.
It is the most common hereditary neuromuscular disease and also one of the most severe forms of inherited muscular dystrophies, according to a release. Each year there are an estimated 20,000 cases diagnosed worldwide.
“Today, Ohio is the first state in the country to screen for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in newborns,” said DeWine. “Adding DMD to the list of screenings newborns receive ensures that parents will be able to start initiating care early for children who are diagnosed with this condition.”
The addition of DMD to the screening program helps parents avoid what is often a long journey to get a diagnosis.
The symptom onset is in early childhood and typically appears between the ages of 2 and 3. There is no cure, but there are new treatments through gene therapy that can slow progression and improve quality of life.
Ohio law requires newborn screening to be done on all babies born in the state. According to DeWine’s office, an estimated 35 babies with DMD will be screened in Ohio each year.
“This addition means more children in Ohio will have the chance to live their best lives,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff.