Catalan clinicians have studied the possibility of early detection of myocardial alterations in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD):
- 23 adolescents with dystrophinopathy (14 DMD, 8 Becker, 1 symptomatic transmitter) were assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardio-MRI) and cardiac functional parameters,
- their data were compared with a control group of 173 healthy individuals,
- the analysis was used to draw up topographical maps of myocardial damage,
- a notable asymmetry of this damage was observed between the septum and the region of the posterior wall of the left ventricle,
- this asymmetry appears to correlate well with the reduction in systolic ejection fraction.
This non-invasive biomarker, although imperfect, could be useful for anticipating deterioration in cardiac function in DMD.
