Bone density and alendronate effects in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Authors :: Houston C
Mathews K
Shibli-Rahhal A
Source :: Muscle & nerve [Muscle Nerve] 2014 Apr; Vol. 49 (4), pp. 506-11. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Feb 10.
Publication Year :: 2014
Abstract: Introduction: Patients with DMD have low bone mineral density (BMD) and are at high risk for fractures. We examined changes in BMD and the effects of alendronate in DMD patients treated at our institution in the last decade.<br />Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 39 DMD patients.<br />Results: Patients had screening dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at an average age of 12 years. The vast majority had low Z-scores at the total hip and lumbar spine. Patients treated with glucocorticoids had a significantly lower Z-score at the spine than those not treated with glucocorticoids. Z-scores at the hip trended down without alendronate (P = 0.07) and trended up with alendronate (P = 0.4).<br />Conclusions: By age 12 years, most patients with DMD had low Z-scores. They may have benefitted from earlier screening. Z-score at the hip trended downward without alendronate and trended upward (stabilized) with alendronate, but these trends were not statistically significant.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)