Bone Abstracts

Steroids are currently used to improve muscle strength and prolong ambulation in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) although the effect on bone health is still unclear. The aim of this study was to compare bone strength in healthy children and boys with DMD and investigate the interaction between diminished muscle function, loss of ambulation and high dose oral steroids.Fifty children were studied, 14 healthy boys (HB), 13 boys with DMD who rema...

Objectives: Current guidelines recommend annual assessments of bone densitometry in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, this recommendation is based on the assumption that bone density is a predictor of fractures in this patient group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between long-term changes in bone density, corticosteroid exposure and mobility with vertebral and long bone fractures.Methods: Twenty-four DMD boys...

Background: DMD is a progressive neuromuscular disease often treated with oral glucocorticoids (GC) to prolong ambulation and maintain cardiovascular function. However, the osteotoxic GC effects often result in a skeleton prone to fractures. DMD boys presenting with fractures are treated with bisphosphonates (BP) but evidence of beneficial effects is limited. The aim of this work was to review the use of intravenous BPs in a group of severely affected boys with fractures.<...

Background: Oral glucocorticoids (GC; prednisolone dose of 0.75 mg/kg per day), help to preserve muscle strength and prolong independent walking in boys with DMD. This study compared longitudinal growth, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), vertebral fractures (VFs) and ambulatory status in boys with DMD on daily (DAILY) or intermittent (INTER; 10 days on & 10 days off), oral GC regimens.Methods: 50 DMD boys from two UK centres were inc...