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MANAGEMENT OF DUCHENNE
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
A guide for families
National Office Vision
info@muscle.ca To find a cure for neuromuscular
disorders in our lifetime.
2345 Yonge St.
Suite 900
Toronto, ON Mission
M4P 2E5 Muscular Dystrophy Canadas mission is
to enhance the lives of those affected with
Tel: 1-866-MUSCLE-8
neuromuscular disorders by continually
416-488-0030
working to provide ongoing support and
Fax: 416-488-7523
resources while relentlessly searching for
a cure through well-funded research.
Acknowledgments
Muscular Dystrophy Canada is grateful to
www.mdausa.org MDA, PPMD, TREAT-NMD and UPPMD for
their leadership in writing and producing the
original version of this guide, and for giving
us the permission to reproduce the content
www.parentprojectmd.org
for a Canadian audience.
Photographs used in this guide were provided
by Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Duchenne
Parent Project Netherlands, MDA, PPMD,
Parent Project Czeck Republic and TREAT-
www.treat-nmd.eu NMD. We would like to thank all the boys and
families who allowed their photos to be used.
Designed by r//evolution 01434 606155
www.hrsdc.gc.ca
Contents
1 Introduction 04
2 How to use this document 05
3 Diagnosis 11
4 Neuromuscular management - maintaining strength and function 14
5 Rehabilitation management - physiotherapy and occupational therapy 25
6 Orthopaedic management - help with bone and joint problems 29
7 Pulmonary management - looking after the breathing muscles 31
8 Cardiac management - looking after the heart 34
9 Gastrointestinal management - nutrition, swallowing
and other gastrointestinal issues 36
10 Psychosocial management - help with behaviour and learning 39
11 Considerations for surgery 43
12 Emergency care considerations 46
Abbreviations 48
List of terms that you may come across 49
DISCLAIMER
The information and advice published or made available in this booklet is not intended to
replace the services of a doctor, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. This advice
should be taken in conjunction with medical advice from your doctor, whom you should consult
in all matters relating to your health, in particular with respect to symptoms that may require
diagnosis or medical attention. Any action on your part in response to the information provided
in this booklet is at your own discretion.
04
1 Introduction
This guide for families summarizes the results The recommendations are based on an
of an international consensus on the medical extensive study by 84 international experts in
care of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD diagnosis and care chosen to represent a
This effort was supported by the US Centers broad range of specialties. They independently
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in rated methods of care used in the
collaboration with patient advocacy groups management of DMD to say how necessary,
and the TREAT-NMD network. The main appropriate or inappropriate each one
document is published in Lancet Neurology. was at different stages of the course of DMD.
In total they considered more than 70,000
different scenarios. This allowed them to
establish guidelines that the majority agreed
References for the represented the best practice for DMD care.
main document:
The experts stressed that the best management
Bushby K, et al. The Diagnosis and of DMD requires a multidisciplinary approach,
Management of Duchenne Muscular
with the input of specialists in many different
Dystrophy, part 1: diagnosis, and
areas, and that there must be a doctor or
pharmacological and psychosocial
management, Lancet Neurology 2010, medical professional that coordinates these
9(1) 77-93. efforts. Because everybody is different, the
person with DMD and his family should be
Bushby K, et al. The Diagnosis and actively engaged with a medical professional
Management of Duchenne Muscular
who will coordinate and individualize
Dystrophy, part 2: implementation of
multidisciplinary care, Lancet Neurology
clinical care.
2010, 9(2) 177-189. This document will provide you with basic
The main document can be downloaded information to allow you to participate
free from www.muscle.ca OR effectively in this process. The doctor or
www.treat-nmd.eu/ medical professional who coordinates care
must be aware of all potential issues in DMD
and must have access to the interventions
that are the foundations for proper care and to
input from different specialties. The emphasis
of interventions will change over time. This
guide takes you through the different topics
or domains of DMD care (Figure 1). Not all of
these specialists will be needed at all stages
of the condition, but it is important that they
are accessible if necessary and that the person
coordinating care has support in all these areas.
05
2 How to use this document
This guide contains a lot of information. You TAKING DMD STEP BY STEP (Figure 1)
can use it in two different ways. Some families DMD is a condition that changes as time goes
prefer to concentrate on the stage of DMD by. Doctors and others often recognize key
that their child has reached. Others like to stages in the progression of the condition.
understand as much as possible about every They use these key stages to guide their
aspect of DMD from the start. recommendations about care, though these
stages can be a rather artificial distinction.
In this section and in Figure 1 you can see
Still, it can be useful to use the stages to
how experts think about the different stages
identify the kind of interventions that are
of DMD and how the care needs of someone
recommended at any particular time and
with DMD changes over that time. Then if
what you should expect of your care team
you want to go directly to the parts of the
at that time.
document which are relevant to you now,
you should be able to find them easily. At
the end of the document, there are two Presymptomatic
sections that might be important to have Most boys with DMD are not diagnosed during
as an easy reference: things to remember if the PRESYMPTOMATIC stage unless there is
surgery is planned and things to consider in a family history of the condition or unless
an emergency situation. We have colour- blood tests are done for other reasons.
coded the different sections to match with the Symptoms of delayed walking or delayed
colours in the figure. There is a glossary at the speech are present, but are typically subtle
end of the booklet to help you to understand and are often unnoticed or unrecognized at
any difficult terms that you find here or that this stage.
your care team might use.
family history Can climb stairs rise from floor posture limited
required at each stage of DMD
Normal respiratory
function Increasing risk
Increasing risk
of respiratory
Ensure usual of respiratory
Low risk of respiratory problems impairment PULMONARY
immunization impairment
schedule including Monitor progress Trigger respiratory MANAGEMENT
23-valent Trigger respiratory
investigations and
pneumococcal and assessments
interventions
influenza vaccines
Family support,
early assessment/
intervention for Assessment/intervention for learning, behaviour and coping Transition planning PSYCHOSOCIAL
development, Promote independence and social development to adult services
learning and
MANAGEMENT
behaviour
09
10 Figure 2 - Gowers Manoeuvre
11
3 Diagnosis
Care at diagnosis When to suspect DMD
The specific cause of a medical disorder is The first suspicions are usually raised by one
called the diagnosis. It is very important to of the following three signs (even when there
establish the exact diagnosis when DMD is is no history of DMD in the family):
suspected by your doctor. The aim of care at
Problems with muscle function: It is
this time should be to provide an accurate
often a family member who notices something
diagnosis as quickly as possible. With prompt
is wrong. Boys who have DMD walk later than
diagnosis, everyone in the family can be
other boys their own age. They have enlarged
informed about the general course of DMD,
calf muscles and have trouble running,
provided with genetic counselling and told
jumping or climbing stairs. They fall easily and
of treatment options. Appropriate care can
may have a tendency to walk on their toes.
be put in place and ongoing support and
They may also have a speech delay. One of the
education can be provided to the family.
classic signs of DMD is what is known as the
Ideally, diagnosis should be performed by a
Gowers manoeuvre or sign, where the boy
doctor who is a neuromuscular specialist and
has to use his hands and arms to walk up
who can assess the child clinically and can
his body in order to push himself to an upright
initiate and interpret investigations properly.
position. This is due to weakness in the hips
Family follow-up and support following
and thigh muscles (see Figure 2).
diagnosis will often be supplemented by
support from genetic counsellors. High levels of the muscle protein
creatine kinase (CK) in a blood test. The
finding of a high CK level should prompt an
urgent referral to a neuromuscular specialist
for confirmation of the diagnosis. High levels
Important Facts to Remember: of CK are seen in people with other kinds
1. Getting a diagnosis is an important step so
of muscle conditions and a high CK alone
that you and your doctor can make plans is not enough to confirm DMD.
for your sons care. High levels of the liver enzymes AST
2. Doctors cannot diagnose DMD using only and ALT in a blood test. High levels of these
a CK test. If your son has elevated CK enzymes in the blood are often associated
levels, your doctor will need to confirm the with liver disease, but muscular dystrophies
diagnosis using genetic testing. can also cause this elevation. Unexpectedly
3. You are not alone. Patient organization, high levels of these enzymes without another
such as Muscular Dystrophy Canada, can cause should raise the suspicion that the CK
help you through this difficult time. Our will be high as well and so a diagnosis of
caring volunteers and staff are available muscular dystrophy might be suspected.
to support you and your family. Contact us A liver biopsy is not recommended.
to find out more about our programs and
services. (See back cover for a list of our DELAYED SPEECH DEVELOPMENT: Children
local offices.) with DMD often also have some delay in their
speech development and sometimes that is the
symptom that is first noticed (see Section 10).
12
Confirming the diagnosis of DMD amount of dystrophin present in the muscle
cells (see Figure 3).
DMD is a genetic disease it is caused by a
mutation or change in the DNA for a gene If confirmation of the diagnosis has already
called the dystrophin or DMD gene. The been achieved by genetic testing, a muscle
diagnosis has to be confirmed by genetic biopsy may not be required. However, at some
testing usually on a blood sample, but other centres, the diagnosis of DMD may be made
tests are also sometimes performed as well. by muscle biopsy analysis. Genetic testing
Some background about genetic testing is after a positive biopsy diagnosis of DMD is still
provided in Box 1. essential to determine the specific change in
the DNA or genetic mutation causing DMD.
The tests There are two types of tests normally
performed on a muscle biopsy. They are
1) GENETIC TESTING
immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting for
Genetic testing is always necessary even if
dystrophin. These tests are done to determine
DMD is first confirmed by muscle biopsy.
the presence or absence of dystrophin and can
Different types of genetic tests are able to
help to distinguish DMD from a milder form of
provide specific and more detailed information
the condition.
about the change in the DNA or mutation.
Having genetic confirmation of the diagnosis
is important for several reasons. It will help
to determine if the boy may be eligible for a
number of mutation-specific clinical trials and
Figure 3
will help the family with decisions related to Muscle biopsy; Left: normal muscle showing
dystrophin round the fibres, Right: dystrophic
prenatal diagnosis and future pregnancies.
muscle with absent dystrophin.
Once the exact mutation or change in the
DNA in the dystrophin gene is known, NORMAL DMD
mothers should be offered the opportunity
for genetic testing to check whether they
are carriers or not. This information will be
important for other female family members
on the mothers side (sisters, daughters,
aunts, cousins) to understand if they may be
carriers as well.
Genetic testing and a referral to a genetic
counsellor will help the family understand the
results of the testing and the potential impact
on other family members (see Box 1).
2) MUSCLE BIOPSY ANALYSIS
Your doctor may recommend a muscle biopsy
(taking a small sample of muscle for analysis).
The genetic mutation in DMD means the body
cannot produce the protein dystrophin, or
doesnt produce enough of it. Tests on the
muscle biopsy can provide information on the
13
3) OTHER TESTS with a suspected neuromuscular disorder.
In the past, the tests known as The experts agree that these tests are NOT
electromyography (EMG) and nerve appropriate or necessary for the evaluation
conduction studies (needle tests) have been of DMD.
a traditional part of the assessment of a child
Box 1
Why genetic confirmation testing is important to understand whether your
boy is eligible to participate in these trials. To help
is important doctors find the boys who might be eligible, you
Genetic counselling and carrier testing: should register in a patient registry.
Sometimes the genetic mutation causing DMD The most important question you need to
arises by chance in the boy. This is considered have answered is whether the genetic testing
a spontaneous mutation. In other cases, it has performed was up to currently accepted
been passed on by the boys mother. standards, allowing the exact mutation to be
defined. If it was not, then further testing might
If the mother has the mutation, she is called a be required. You should discuss this with your
carrier, and she can pass the genetic mutation doctor. The exact mutation is also needed to
on to her other children. The boys she passes register with one of the DMD registries. You can
it on to will be affected by DMD, while the find details of the kinds of tests that might be
girls will be carriers themselves. If the mother done and how effective they are at detecting the
is tested and is found to have the mutation, absolute detail of the mutation in
she can make informed decisions about future the main document.
pregnancies, and her female relatives (sisters,
aunts, daughters) can also be tested to see if For more information:
they are also at risk of having a boy with DMD.
All of the national patient registries for DMD
Even when a woman is not a carrier, there is across the world are listed at: www.treat-nmd.
a small risk to future pregnancies because the eu/patientregistries.
mutation may occur in her ova or egg cells. This
The Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry
is called germ line mosaicism.
(CNDR) is a Canada-wide registry of people
A carrier also has a small risk of developing a diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease. It
weak heart or even leg weakness later in life. collects important medical information from
Knowing carrier status helps to identify this risk patients across the country to improve the
so the woman can get proper advice. understanding of neuromuscular disease and
accelerate the development of new therapies.
You should have access to a genetic counsellor For more information, please visit www.cndr.org
who can explain all this to you in more detail. or call 1-877-401-4494.
Eligibility for clinical trials: There are a For a complete listing of clinical trials underway,
number of clinical trials underway in DMD that are please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov
targeted to certain types of mutations. Genetic
14
4 Neuromuscular management -
maintaining strength and function
What assessments should be the condition in a systematic way. Different
done and why scales may be needed at different times.
Your son should have regular checkups with Activities of daily living: This allows the
a specialist doctor who has the expertise team to tell if some additional help might be
to monitor how things are going and to needed to assist independence.
understand if there is anything unusual that
might need additional evaluation. This is
important in order to make decisions about Important Facts to Remember:
new treatments at the most appropriate time 1. Because your son does not have dystrophin,
and to anticipate and prevent problems to the his muscles will gradually get weaker.
maximum extent possible. It is recommended
2. Some types of exercise and getting tired
that your son sees the doctor every
can make muscle damage worse.
6 months and the specialist physiotherapist
and/or occupational therapist about every 3. The doctor understands the progression of
4 months if possible. muscle weakness and can help your son get
ready for the next step.
Tests used in different clinics to follow
individuals with DMD may vary. The most 4. It is important for the doctor to know how
your sons muscles are working so that
important thing is that there is regular
they can start the right therapy as early as
review so that interventions can be properly possible.
monitored. This regular assessment should
include tests that help show how the
condition is progressing, including:
Drug treatments for muscle
Strength: Strength may be measured in a symptoms
number of different ways to see if the force
There is a lot of research happening at the
that can be generated at specific joints is
moment in the area of new drugs for DMD.
changing.
In this document the experts only gave
Range of joint motion: This is done to recommendations where there is already
monitor if contractures or joint tightening sufficient evidence for a treatment. These
is developing and to help to guide what recommendations will change in future when
stretches or interventions will be most helpful. new evidence (such as the results of clinical
trials) becomes available. The guidelines will
Timed tests: Many clinics routinely time
be reviewed as new results become available.
activities such as the time to get up off the
floor, time to walk a certain distance, and time Although it is expected that in future a wider
to climb several steps. This gives important range of treatment options will be available,
information on how the condition is changing at the present time, the only drug treatment
and how it is responding to treatment. for the musculoskeletal symptoms of DMD
that the experts agreed there was sufficient
Motor function scales: There are a large
evidence to be able to recommend is steroid
number of different scales, but your clinic
treatment. Steroids are discussed in detail in
should routinely use the same one to monitor
15
this section. Drug treatments for other specific The recommended national vaccination
symptoms of the disease, such as heart schedule should be complete before
problems, are discussed later. steroid treatment is started, and varicella
(chicken pox) immunity should be
Steroid treatment established.
a step by step guide Starting steroid treatment in boys/
Steroids are used in many other medical young men who are no longer walking
conditions and there is a lot of experience in independently is a matter for individual
their use worldwide. There is no doubt they decision and needs to be discussed with
can benefit many boys with DMD but this the doctor, taking into consideration the
benefit needs to be balanced with proactive effect of pre-existing risk factors. In boys
management of possible side effects. Use of who used steroids when they were walking,
steroids is very important in DMD and should many experts recommend continuation
be discussed with all families early. of medication after loss of ambulation.
The goal in the non-ambulatory person
THE BASICS is to preserve upper limb strength, slow
Steroids (also called glucocorticoids or the progression of scoliosis, and delay the
corticosteroids) are the only drugs known decline of respiratory and cardiac function.
to slow the decline in muscle strength and
motor function in DMD. The goal of steroid
use is to help the child walk independently
for longer to allow enhanced participation Important Facts to Remember:
and to later minimize breathing, heart and 1. Steroids are the only medicines known to
orthopaedic problems. They can also reduce help slow down muscle weakness.
the risk of scoliosis (curvature of the spine).
2. Always tell doctors and other healthcare
Prevention and management of steroid providers that your son is taking steroids.
side effects needs to be proactive and It is especially important if he is having
anticipatory. Interventions should be put surgery or has an infection or injury
because steroids can suppress the immune
in place EARLY in an effort to prevent
system.
problems and to make sure they do not
become severe. Side effects associated with 3. Your son should never stop taking steroids
steroid use vary and are listed in Table 1. suddenly.
4. Your son should have regular visits with
STARTING AND STOPPING STEROIDS
a doctor who is skilled in managing
The optimal time for starting steroid steroids. The doctor will explain possible
treatment is when motor function is in a side effects and tell you if your son is at risk
plateau phase when the boys motor of developing them.
skills have stopped improving, but have not
yet started to get worse. This is normally
sometime between the age of 4-6 years.
It is not recommended to start steroids in
children who are still gaining motor skills,
especially if they are under 2 years of age.
16
The different steroid regimes The choice of which steroid to use depends
upon availability in a particular country,
One of the potentially confusing things the cost to the family, the way the drug
in DMD care is that different doctors and is taken, and the perceived side effects.
different clinics often prescribe different Prednisone has the advantage of being
regimens of steroids, which means you will inexpensive and is available in both tablet
find information about different drugs and and liquid formulation. Deflazacort may be
different regimes. These guidelines have preferred to prednisone for some individuals
tried to establish a clear route to use steroids because there may be a slightly lower risk of
effectively and safely based on regular weight gain.
assessments of function and side effects
(see Box 2). Starting with daily use of a steroid was
preferred by the experts to the alternative
Prednisone (prednisolone) and deflazacort regimes. Data from ongoing and future
are the two types of steroids that are mainly studies may modify this recommendation.
used in DMD. They are believed to work
similarly. Neither one is clearly better.
Planned trials of these drugs are important
and should help us understand them better
in future.
17
Box 2
Doses for starting and In boys on a relatively low dosage of steroids
(less than the starting dose per kg body weight)
maintaining steroids who start to show functional decline, it is
The recommended starting dose of prednisone necessary to consider a functional rescue
is 0.75 mg/kg/day and that of deflazacort is adjustment. The dosage of steroids is increased
0.9 mg/kg/day, given in the morning. Some to the target and the individual is then re-
children experience short-lived behavioural side evaluated for any benefit in approximately two
effects (hyperactivity, mood swings) for a few to three months.
hours after the medication is given. For these
There is no consensus on the optimal steroid
children, administration of the medication in
dosage if initiated in the non-ambulatory
the afternoon may alleviate some of these
individual. Nor is it known how effective
difficulties.
steroid treatment is in preventing scoliosis or in
For ambulatory individuals, the dosage is stabilizing cardiac or respiratory function in this
commonly increased as the child grows until setting. This issue warrants further study.
he reaches approximately 40 kg in weight.
The maximum dose of prednisone is usually
capped at approximately 30 mg/day, and that of
deflazacort at 36 mg/day.
18
Box 3
Management of steroid
medication
A dose reduction of approximately 1/4 to 1/3 is
suggested if intolerable or non-manageable
side effects occur, with a reassessment by
phone or clinical visit in one month to assess
control of side effects.
Steroids are the only drugs that the experts Table 1 (overleaf) summarizes the main side
have agreed can be recommended. Though effects of steroids that should be monitored
some of the drugs mentioned in Box 4 are and useful interventions. Factors to take into
quite widely used, there is just not enough account in maintaining or increasing dose
evidence to say whether these other are response to therapy, weight and growth,
supplements really work or not. It is important and whether side effects are present and
to discuss all medication with your doctor manageable.
before you think about adding or stopping
medication.
20
Table 1
Steroid Side Effects: Recommended Monitoring and Intervention
Some of the more common long-term side effects of high-dose steroid administration in growing
children are listed here. It is important to note that different people will have very different
responses to steroids. The key to successful steroid management is to be aware of the potential
side effects and work to prevent them or reduce them where possible. Reduction in steroid dose
is necessary if side effects are unmanageable or intolerable. If this is unsuccessful, then further
reduction or a change to another dosing regimen is necessary before abandoning treatment
altogether.
Steroid side effect Comment and recommended Points for you to think about
monitoring and to discuss with your doctor
General and cosmetic Dietary advice needs to be It is important that the whole
Weight gain provided to all families before family eat sensibly in order to
Obesity starting a steroid regimen. They prevent excess weight gain. Look
should be warned that steroids for advice for the entire family
increase appetite. regarding diet and nutrition.
Cushingoid features Fullness in the face and cheeks Careful monitoring of diet and
(moon face) becomes more noticeable over restricting sugar and salt intake
time. will help with weight gain and
may minimize Cushingoid features.
Excessive growth of hair Clinical examination. This is not usually severe enough
on the body (hirsutism) to warrant a change in medication.
Acne, Tinea, Warts More noticeable in teenagers. Use specific treatments (topical
prescription) and do not rush
to change the steroid regimen
unless there is emotional distress.
Growth retardation Monitor height at least every 6 Ask if your son is concerned
months as part of general care about his short stature. If so, you
(height tends to be small in DMD should discuss with your doctor if
even without steroid treatment.) he needs an endocrine check up.
21
Steroid side effect Comment and recommended Points for you to think about
monitoring and to discuss with your doctor
Adverse behavioural Identify any baseline mood, Consider if baseline issues should
changes temperament, and ADHD issues. be treated prior to starting
Be aware that these often steroid therapy, e.g. ADHD
(There is a lot more
information about temporarily worsen in the initial counselling or prescription.
behaviour in Section 10 of six weeks on steroid therapy.
It may help to change the timing
these recommendations)
of steroid medication to later in
the day discuss this with your
doctor, who may also consider
a behavioural health referral.
Glucose intolerance Test urine for glucose with Blood tests may be needed if
dipstick test at clinic visits. urine tests are positive.
Enquire about increased passage
of urine or increased thirst.
Peptic ulcer disease Report symptoms of stomach pain Avoid NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen,
as this can be a sign of damage to naproxen).
the lining of the stomach.
Drugs and antacid can be used if
Stool can be checked for blood if symptomatic.
anaemic or suggestive history.
Seek gastrointestinal consultation.
People with DMD need access to different There are many factors in DMD that
types of rehabilitation management contribute to the tendency for joints to get
throughout their lives. Much of this will tight or contracted. These include the
be delivered by physiotherapists and muscle becoming less elastic due to limited
occupational therapists, but other people use and positioning or because the muscles
may also need to help, including rehabilitation around a joint are out of balance (one stronger
specialists, orthotists, providers of than another). Maintaining good range of
wheelchairs and other seating. Orthopaedic movement and symmetry at different joints
surgeons may also be involved. is important. This helps to maintain the best
possible function, prevent the development
Management of muscle extensibility
of fixed deformities, and prevent pressure
and joint contractures is a key part of
problems with the skin.
rehabilitation management.
The goal of stretching is to preserve
function and maintain comfort. The program
of stretching will be monitored by the
physiotherapist but needs to become part
of the familys daily routine.
26
Box 5
Management of muscle Night splints (ankle-foot orthoses or AFOs) can
be used to help control contractures in the ankle.
extensibility and joint These need to be custom-made and not provided
contractures off the shelf. After the loss of ambulation,
daytime splints may be preferred, but daytime
The key contact for management of joint
splints are not recommended for boys who are
contractures is your physiotherapist. Ideally
still walking.
input from a local physiotherapist will be backed
up by a specialist physiotherapist about every 4 Long leg splints (knee-ankle-foot orthoses or
months. Stretching should be performed at least KAFOs) may be useful around the stage when
4-6 times each week and should become part of walking is becoming very difficult or impossible.
the daily routine. KAFOs can be useful to help control joint
tightness and to prolong ambulation and delay
Effective stretching to counteract development
the onset of scoliosis.
of contractures may require different techniques
which your physiotherapist will show you, Standing programs (in a standing frame or power
including stretching, splinting and standing chair with stander) are recommended after
devices. walking becomes impossible.
Regular stretching at the ankle, knee, and hip is Resting hand splints are appropriate for
important. Later on, regular stretching for the individuals with tight long finger flexors.
arms becomes necessary, especially the fingers,
Surgery can be offered in some situations in
wrist, elbow and shoulder. Additional areas that
an effort to prolong the period of walking.
require stretching may be identified on individual
However, this approach must be strictly
examination.
individualized. More information about the
different options is available in the main
document.
Box 6
Pain management steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) and
associated side effects, especially those that
It is important to ask boys/young men with DMD might affect cardiac or respiratory function,
if pain is a problem so that it can be addressed should be considered.
and treated properly. Unfortunately, very little is
currently known about pain in DMD. More research Rarely, orthopaedic intervention might be
is needed. If your son is in pain you need to talk indicated for pain that cannot be managed in
to your doctor and explain to them that this is a any other way but that might respond to surgery.
problem. Back pain, especially in people using steroids,
means the doctors should check carefully for
For effective pain management, it is important vertebral fractures, which respond well to
to determine why there is pain so the doctors bisphosphonate treatment.
can provide appropriate interventions.
Box 9
Oral care recommendations Oral and dental care is to be based on
prophylactic measures with a view to
Boys with DMD should see a dentist with maintaining good oral and dental hygiene.
extended experience and detailed knowledge
of the disease, preferably at a centralized or Individually adapted assistive devices and
specialist clinic. The dentists mission should be technical aids for oral hygiene are of particular
to strive for high-quality treatment, oral health importance when the muscular strength of the
and wellbeing and to function as a resource for boys hands, arms and neck begins to decrease.
the families and the boys own dentist in his
home community. This dentist should be aware
of the specific differences in dental and skeletal
development in boys with DMD and collaborate
with a well informed and experienced
orthodontist.
39
10 Psychosocial management -
help with behaviour and learning
People with DMD may have an increased If you think your child has worries about
risk of psychosocial difficulties, such as his condition, openness and a willingness
problems with behaviour and learning, and to answer his questions can go a long way
medical care is not complete without support to preventing further problems. Boys with
for psychosocial wellbeing. Difficulties in DMD often understand more about their
social functioning may be due to specific condition than their parents think. It is
challenges in particular skills, such as getting important to answer questions openly, but
along with others, judging social situations, be age-appropriate in your answers and just
and perspectives, while the consequences of answer what is being asked. This can be very
DMD (such as physical limitations) may result difficult, but the staff at your clinic as well as
in social isolation, social withdrawal, and Muscular Dystrophy Canada staff and Chapter
reduced access to social activities. For many volunteers can offer help and guidance about
parents, the stress caused by the psychosocial what has worked for other families.
problems of the child and difficulties in
Not everyone with DMD will have
getting them recognized and properly treated
psychosocial difficulties, but families should
exceeds the stress associated with the
keep an eye out for:
physical aspects of the disease.
Weaknesses in language development,
comprehension, and short-term memory;
Learning problems;
Important Facts to Remember:
Difficulty with social interactions and/or
1. The psychosocial health of your son and
your family is important.
making friendships (i.e. social immaturity,
poor social skills, withdrawal or isolation
2. Your son may have a higher chance of from peers);
having psychosocial difficulties.
Anxiety/worry;
3. You and your family are at risk of some
problems such as depression. Frequent arguing and temper tantrums;
4. The best way to manage psychosocial There is also increased risk of
problems is to identify them early and start neurobehavioural and neurodevelopmental
treatments. disorders, including autism-spectrum
5. Correct use of language may be a problem, disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity
as may continuing difficulties at school. disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive
These behaviors are often seen in DMD and disorder (OCD);
can be helped with proper assessment and
input. Problems may be encountered with
emotional adjustment and depression.
6. In most cases, learning problems in DMD Anxiety may also be an issue and can be
are not progressive and most boys catch up made worse by deficits in mental flexibility
when they receive appropriate help.
and adaptability (i.e. an overly-rigid
thought process);
40
This can also result in oppositional/ The emphasis in psychosocial management
argumentative behaviour and temper should be strongly on prevention of
problems; problems and early intervention, as this will
maximize the potential outcome. In general,
In addition, increased rates of depression
the psychosocial problems should be treated
in parents of children who have DMD
with the same effective, evidence-based
underscore the need for assessment and
interventions that are used in the general
support of the entire family.
population. This means it is important to look
for help if you think there are problems in
this area.
Box 10
Speech and language
management
Broken bones
Important Facts to Remember: Boys with DMD are at risk of broken bones
and breaking a leg bone can mean that it is
1. You are very likely to know more about
DMD than the doctors in Accident and
difficult to walk again if walking is already
Emergency. very difficult. Let your physiotherapist and
the rest of the care team know if there is a
2. Advise the doctor or healthcare staff if your fracture so they can talk to the surgeons if
son is taking steroids.
necessary.
3. If your son has a broken bone, insist
Surgery is often a better option than a cast
that they speak with your doctor or
physiotherapist. for a broken leg if someone is still walking.
4. If you can, bring copies of your sons most Input from a physiotherapist is crucial to
recent test results, such as FVC and LVEF. make sure that the boy gets back on his feet
as soon as possible.
5. If your sons oxygen level drops, the doctor
must be very careful about giving him If the broken bone is one of the vertebrae
oxygen or sedating medication. (backbones) with a lot of pain in the back,
input from a bone doctor or endocrinologist
is needed to provide the right treatment
(see Section 6).
47
BiPAP
bi two way; PAP positive air pressure.
D
Depolarising muscle relaxants
Used to maintain lung expansion
drugs that decrease the muscle tone by acting
Bisphosphonates on muscle receptors involved in depolarisation
type of medication that may be recommended
DEXA
to boys on steroids to increase bone strength
see abbreviations
and reduce risk of fractures
Dysphagia
Body Mass Index
swallowing problems
relationship between weight and height
according to formula weight, in kg, divided Dystrophinopathy
by the square of length, in metres the term used to cover all the different
conditions caused by faults in the dystrophin
gene (Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker
muscular dystrophy, manifesting carriers of
one of these conditions and rare patients who
have only heart disease)
50
Glucose intolerance
E defines a pre-diabetic state associated with
Eccentric Exercises
insulin resistance
exercises such as going downstairs or
trampolining that involve lengthening rather Gowers manoeuvre/sign
than contraction of the muscle a sign of weakness in the muscles round
the hips and upper part of the lower legs.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
It describes the way that someone with
methods used to assess the electrical activity
weakness in these muscles gets up of the
of the cardiac muscle. The ECG involves
floor, needing to turn onto their front, keep
stickers placed on the chest to record heart
their legs wide apart and using a hand on
signals
their thigh to rise. It is commonly seen in
Echocardiogram (echo) DMD but other conditions causing weakness
method used to assess the structure of the in the same muscle groups also cause a
heart. The Echo is also known as a cardiac Gowers manoeuvre
ultrasound and gives pictures of the
beating heart H
Electromyography Holter
a test that measures electrical signals from a method used for continuous ambulatory 24 hr
muscle and can give a clue to whether a nerve ECG recording
or muscle disorder is present Hypercapnia
too much carbon dioxide in the blood
F Hypertension
Forced Vital Capacity
high blood pressure
the maximum volume of air that can be
exhaled after maximum inhalation Hypoventilation
reduced breathing efficiency of ventilatory
G capacity
Gastritis/gastroesophageal reflux Hypoxemia
occurs when the muscle joining the esophagus decreased oxygen levels in the blood
(swallowing tube from the mouth) to the
stomach opens on its own, or does not close
properly and stomach contents rise up into I
the esophagus. Also called acid reflux or acid Immunoblotting
regurgitation, because digestive juices, called a way to measure the amount of dystrophin
acids, rise up with the food in the muscle
Gastrostomy Immunocytochemistry
surgical opening into the stomach, in this case a way to look at the muscle under the
to insert a feeding tube. Sometimes referred to microscope and see how much dystrophin
as a PEG is present
Germline mosaicism
condition in which the cells in the gonads
that will develop into germ cells (ova and
spermatozoa) are a mixture of two genetically
different cell types
51
K S
Knee adductors Scoliosis
the muscles that keep the knees together curvature of the spine
Kyphoscoliosis
abnormal curvature of the spine with both T
sideward (scoliosis) and hunched forward or Tanner stage
backward (kyphosis) defines pubertal development based
on external primary and secondary sex
characteristics, such as the size of the breasts,
M genitalia and the development of pubic hair
Malignant Hyperthermia-like reaction
a response to anaesthesia that causes a Tenotomy
high temperature and can be life-threatening surgical cutting of a tendon
Motor Function Scales Thrombolitic events
tests which are used to assess activities of formation of a clot (thrombus) in a blood
motor performance in a standardized way vessel that breaks loose and is carried by the
blood stream to plug another vessel
Myoglobinuria
presence of myoglobin in the urine as a sign Tinea
of breakdown of muscle (urine looks coca- a fungal skin infection
cola coloured because it contains breakdown
Tracheostomy
products of muscle proteins)
surgical procedure on the neck to open a
direct airway through an incision in the
O trachea (the windpipe)
Osteopenia/osteoporosis
decrease in bone mineral density
V
Oximetry Varus
the measurement of oxygen in the blood inward rotation of the foot due to an
stream using a machine to detect it through imbalance of the foot muscles
the skin
Volume recruitment
increasing the amount of air taken in by the
P lungs using a device to help inflate the lungs.
Palpitations Such devices include Ambu bags and in-
awareness of abnormal heartbeats exsufflators. Ventilators can also be used to
Pelvic obliquity increase volume
describes a condition in which the pelvis is Videofluoroscopic study
uneven, such as being rotated downward on assessment tool to view and determine
one side the nature and extent of an oropharyngeal
Prophylaxis swallowing problem. A video X-ray is taken
prevention as the child swallows the food
R
Rhabdomyolysis
breakdown of muscle
Muscular Dystrophy Canada Offices
National Office Atlantic Canada Western Canada
info@muscle.ca infoatlantic@muscle.ca infowest@muscle.ca
2345 Yonge St., Suite 900 56 Avonlea Court, Suite 203 7th Floor - 1401 West Broadway
Toronto, ON M4P 2E5 Fredericton, NB E3C 1N8 Vancouver, BC V6H 1H6
Tel: 416-488-0030 Tel: 506-450-6322 Tel: 604-732-8799
1-866-MUSCLE-8 1-888-647-6322 1-800-366-8166