Comparison of motor strength and function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with or without steroid therapy.

Objective: To compare muscle strength (MS) and motor function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) receiving steroids for different times against the natural evolution of DMD described by Scott et al.

Method: 90 patients with DMD (aged 5- 12 years), receiving steroids for one to seven years, were evaluated by Medical Research Council Scale (MRC) and Hammersmith motor ability score. The relation between MS and motor abilities measurement from our data and Scott's ones were ascertained statistically.

Results: The relation between patient's age and Hammersmith scores revealed decrease of 0.76 point per year for age against decrease of 2.23 points on Scott's study. The relation between MRC scale and patient's age showed decrease of 0.80 point per year of age against decrease of 3.65 points on Scott's study.

Conclusion: In patients with DMD aged five to 12 years the progression of the disease is delayed by steroids and the motor function is less reduced than muscular strength.