Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited myopathy characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness leading to loss of ambulation, respiratory and cardiac failure.
Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Although corticosteroids are clinically effective pharmacologic therapy for skeletal muscle function, there is limited data documenting the impact on cardiac functions.
Objective: This study aimed to detect effects of prednisolone on cardiac functions in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Patients and methods: This study consisted of 26 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 19 healthy boys in the control group. All patients have taken prednisolone at least six months. Patients were examined regularly 3-6 months interval. To evaluate cardiac functions all patients underwent ECG, Holter and echocardiography study. Echocardiography studies performed to the control group. Left atrial and ventricular dimensions, left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening were measured by two-dimensional echocardiography. By Doppler echocardiography mitral inflow velocities, Mitral E/Mitral A ratio, and time intervals were measured. Tissue Doppler velocities of septal and lateral sites of the mitral annulus were measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography.
Results: The results compared with the normal values and control group. There was no significant impairment at systolic and diastolic functions in the patient group during whole follow-up.
Conclusion: Although, normal cardiac functions were probably due to young age, steroid therapy may have some protective effects on cardiac functions. The steroid treatment seems to be preventive for development of ventricular dysfunction but the long term studies necessitate at this topic.