Report of a Muscular Dystrophy Campaign funded workshop Birmingham, UK, January 16th 2004. Osteoporosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy; its prevalence, treatment and prevention

Abstract

A Muscular Dystrophy Campaign funded workshop to look into the potential problems of osteoporosis occurring in boys with DMD treated with steroids took place in Birmingham (UK) on the 16th January 2004. Fourteen participants met from varied backgrounds including, paediatric neuromuscular disease, neurology, paediatric and adult metabolic bone disease, paediatric rheumatology, genetics, physiotherapy and medical physics together with a representative from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. The aims of the workshop were to assess the evidence for the risk of osteoporosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), to assess the adverse effects of corticosteroid (steroid) treatment relating to bone mineral density and longitudinal growth and to assess the current evidence for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Steroids are increasingly used in boys with DMD following the evidence from randomised controlled trials on their short-term benefit. However, the balance between long-term benefit and side effects has not been established. Long-term steroid use may be associated with significant side effects including weight gain, growth failure, cataracts and osteoporosis, so the development of strategies to prevent or treat these complications is important. We reviewed the literature to determine