Deflazacort is the most commonly prescribed corticosteroid for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Canada. We review the long-term experience with deflazacort treatment at two centers in Canada; Montreal and Toronto. Deflazacort has benefitted both cohorts by prolonged ambulation, preserved cardiac and respiratory function, less scoliosis and improved survival. Common side effects i...

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects approximately 1 in 3,500 live male births [1]. It is caused by a large variety of mutations in the dystrophin gene. Because of these mutations, the body can no longer make dystrophin which is a protein important for stabilisation of the muscle cell during a contraction. Without dystrophin, muscle cells are damaged and slowly replaced by fat and scar tis...

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive genetic disease with no cure at present. Children suffering from this disease eventually become wheelchair bound and die in their late teens. Paediatricians caring for the child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in resource poor settings face a lot challenges. These challenges include: poverty, inadequate multidisciplinary care, emotional burn-out of ...

Although the presence of cognitive deficits in Duchenne muscular dystrophy or myotonic dystrophy DM1 is well established in view of brain-specific expression of affected muscle proteins, in other neuromuscular disorders, such as congenital myopathies and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, cognitive profiles are poorly defined. Also, there are limited characterization of the cognitive profile of ...

Background Antisense-mediated exon skipping is a putative treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Using antisense oligonucleotides (AONs), the disrupted DMD reading frame is restored, allowing generation of partially functional dystrophin and conversion of a severe Duchenne into a milder Becker muscular dystrophy phenotype. In vivo studies are mainly performed using 2′-O-methyl phospho...

Using succinylcholine and inhalation agents for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is extremely risky. Those risks include heart failure, cardiac dysrhythmias, rhabdomyolysis and malignant hyperthermia. Even in emergent situations, such as intraoperative bronchospasm, succinylcholine and inhalational agents are often considered contraindicated. Nevertheless, if intraoperative bronchospas...

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease in which the absence of dystrophin from the muscle membrane induces a secondary loss of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and the muscles capacity for endogenous nitric oxide synthesis. Since nitric oxide is a potent regulator of skeletal muscle metabolism, mass, function and regeneration, the loss of nitric oxide bioavailabilit...

The present study examined the natural history of fracture and vitamin D levels in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, who are vulnerable to osteoporosis and fractures. Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 48 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients revealed that 43% of patients experienced 1 fracture. Fracture probabilities at ages 6, 9, 12, and 15 years were 4%, 9%, 31%, and 60% respectively, ...

and immunohistochemically proven, Duchenne muscular dystrophy of age 18, 20, and 21 respectively, with a classical Duchenne muscular dystrophy phenotype including progressive (proximal predominant) tetraparesia, joint contractures, cardiac deficit, and respiratory insufficiency. All patients showed initial calf and tongue muscle hypertrophy, and developed later generalized limb muscle atrophy i...

Background Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a deadly X-linked recessive disorder. This genetic disorder affects 1 among 3,500-5,000 males in the world. The majority of the patients are male, due to the type of inheritance. It affects most of the skeletal, the respiratory, and cardiac muscles, causing these vital organs to contract and eventually mortality.<br...