Daily steroid treatment allow boys with muscular dystrophy
According to a study published in an issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, boys suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy tend to lead a more balanced life and able to walk on their own for a longer period of time apart from minimizing the risk of scoliosis after receiving their daily steroid treatments.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy tends to happen in 1 out of every 3,500 boys and its symptoms tend to show up early in the childhood days. It is important to note that this disorder is not curable by now and the medical fraternity is trying its level best to win the battle very soon.
From News-Medical.Net:
The study found boys who were treated with daily steroids walked by themselves 3.3 years longer than the untreated boys and had a lower rate of scoliosis, 31 percent compared to 91 percent.
“Previous studies have shown steroids improve strength and function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but this is the first study to show the long-term impact and how treated boys are able to walk longer on their own,” said study author Wendy King, PT, with the Department of Neurology at Ohio State University Medical Center, and member of the American Academy of Neurology.
However, the study found those boys being treated with daily steroids had an increased risk of vertebral and leg fractures. Vertebral fractures occurred in 32 percent of the boys treated with steroids, whereas there were no fractures reported in the untreated group. Leg fractures were 2.6 times more common in the steroid-treated group. King said this may be due to increased body weight and that the treated boys walked longer than the untreated group.
King remarked that the advantages of steroids do come at a cost of side effects and patients (and their parents) must weigh the pros and cons of steroid treatments for making informed decision.
