Old and new therapeutic developments in steroid treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Acta Myol. 2012 May;31(1):9-15.

Abstract

Steroids have been used since two decades and several trials were conducted to establish their efficacy in DMD patients with various regimens. The clinical outcomes showed increased function in the treated boys, and in a single trial with deflazacort, prolongation of ambulation but with different side effects. Steroids clinical efficacy is now established. The main concern is to increase steroid efficacy and decrease side effect and toxicity. A trial comparing daily prednisone, deflazacort and intermittent glucocorticoids (prednisone 10 days on/10 days off) (FOR-DMD) is starting under NIH grant. The primary outcomes will be muscle strength, forced vital capacity and patient/parents satisfaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Exercise Test
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Muscle Strength
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / drug therapy*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / physiopathology
  • Prednisone / pharmacology
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Pregnenediones / pharmacology
  • Pregnenediones / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Pregnenediones
  • deflazacort
  • Prednisone