Functional and Clinical Outcomes Associated with Steroid Treatment among Non-ambulatory Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

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Abstract

Background: Evidence on the long-term efficacy of steroids in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) after loss of ambulation is limited. Objective: Characterize and compare disease progression by steroid treatment (prednisone, deflazacort, or no steroids) among non-ambulatory boys with DMD. Methods: Disease progression was measured by functional status (Performance of Upper Limb Module for DMD 1.2 [PUL] and Egen Klassifikation Scale Version 2 [EK] scale) and by cardiac and pulmonary function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], forced vital capacity [FVC] % -predicted, cough peak flow [CPF]). Longitudinal changes in outcomes, progression to key disease milestones, and dosing and body composition metrics were analyzed descriptively and in multivariate models. Results: This longitudinal cohort study included 86 non-ambulatory patients with DMD (mean age 13.4 years; n = 40 [deflazacort], n = 29 [prednisone], n = 17 [no steroids]). Deflazacort use resulted in slower average declines in FVC % -predicted vs. no steroids (+3.73 percentage points/year, p < 0.05). Both steroids were associated with significantly slower average declines in LVEF, improvement in CPF, and slower declines in total PUL score and EK total score vs. no steroids; deflazacort was associated with slower declines in total PUL score vs. prednisone (all p < 0.05). Both steroids also preserved functional abilities considered especially important to quality of life, including the abilities to perform hand-to-mouth function and to turn in bed at night unaided (all p < 0.05 vs. no steroids). Conclusions: Steroid use after loss of ambulation in DMD was associated with delayed progression of important pulmonary, cardiac, and upper extremity functional deficits, suggesting some benefits of deflazacort over prednisone.

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Mcdonald, C. M., Mayer, O. H., Hor, K. N., Miller, D., Goemans, N., Henricson, E. K., … Signorovitch, J. (2023). Functional and Clinical Outcomes Associated with Steroid Treatment among Non-ambulatory Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases, 10(1), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.3233/JND-221575

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