Choice of compound, dosage, and management of side effects for long-term corticosteroid treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Guidelines from the Neuromuscular Commission of the French Society of Pediatric Neurology.

The French Society of Pediatric Neurology and the FILNEMUS network created a working group on corticosteroid therapy in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in order to analyze the literature review and current French practices. The aim of this work was to produce guidelines regarding treatment initiation, pre-therapeutic interventions, choice between available compounds, and treatment monitoring (dosage, duration, and discontinuation). The treatment side effects and their management are also detailed: osteoporosis, endocrinological anomaly (growth delay, weight gain, pubertal delay), cataract, arterial hypertension, behavioral disorders, management of immunosuppression and vaccines, and management of gastrointestinal and metabolic complications.

Corticosteroids in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: impact on the motor function measure sensitivity to change and implications for clinical trials.

Aim: To monitor the evolution of the motor function of ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) treated by corticosteroids for 2 years in comparison with untreated patients.

Method: This observational, multicentre cohort study explores the evolution of the motor function measure (MFM) over a 24-month period for 29 ambulant corticosteroids-treated and 45 ambulant untreated patients with DMD.

Results: Significant differences were found between mean MFM scores in corticosteroids-treated and untreated groups for domain 1 of the MFM (standing position and transfers; D1), domain 2 of the MFM (axial and proximal motor function; D2), and domain 3 of the MFM (distal motor function; D3).

Influence of a two-year steroid treatment on body composition as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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.