Influence of a two-year steroid treatment on body composition as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Neuromuscul Disord
; 24(6): 467-73, 2014 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24780149
ABSTRACT
Steroids are nowadays routinely used as a long-term treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Their effects on body composition were assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry. The study followed over 2 years 29 genetically confirmed DMD patients 21 in the steroid-treated group and 8 in the steroid-naïve group. After 2 years of steroid treatment, the lean tissue mass values increased significantly (p<0.0001), the percentage of body fat mass remained practically constant (p=0.94) in comparison with the initial visit. In the steroid-naïve patients, there were no significant increases in the lean tissue mass but deterioration in body composition confirmed by a significant increase in the percentage of body fat mass. Besides, significant negative correlations were found between the percentage of body fat mass and the MFM total score (R=-0.79, n=76, p<0.0001). A 2-year steroid treatment improves significantly body composition of boys with DMD through a significant increase in lean tissue mass. We suggest that a thorough check of body composition should be carried out before steroid treatment discontinuation in case of overweight gain.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Steroids
/
Body Composition
/
Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Neuromuscul Disord
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
2014
Type:
Article