The UK consortium dedicated to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) reports the results of a retrospective study designed to investigate a possible link between the side-effects of long-term steroid administration on weight and height curves and the age of loss of ambulation:
- the clinical and anthropometric data of 648 children with DMD selected from the UKNorth Star database were analysed,
- all were receiving prednisone/prednisolone or deflazacort,
- the beneficial effect of these drugs on prolonging autonomous walking was confirmed, especially in those taking full doses of deflazacort,
- there is no direct link between the effects induced by corticosteroid therapy (slowing of growth and excessive weight gain) and loss of walking,
- However, over a two-year period, there is an increased risk of loss of walking when the child’s height percentile changes, and even more so if the child’s weight percentile increases.
However, the authors highlight the methodological biases of this type of study and conclude that the relationships between motor function and growth and/or weight disorders in DMD are complex.
