title: Bone mass development in patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies: a 4-year clinical follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the longitudinal development of bone mass in patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies and to study the impact of muscle strength and motor function on bone mass in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (2.3-19.7 years at baseline) and six patients with the milder Becker muscular dystrophy (10.8-18.9 years at baseline) were followed during a 4-year period with respect to areal bone mineral density (BMD), motor function and muscle strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater bone mineral accretion was observed in the Becker patient group compared with the age-related Duchenne group above 10 years of age, and the older patients with Duchenne experienced decreased femoral neck BMD during the study period. In the study group, significant correlations were found between BMD in the lower extremities and muscle function parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences in BMD between patients with Duchenne and Becker as well as between different bone measurement sites demonstrated in the present study point out the importance of preserving muscle strength and motor function in patients with muscular dystrophy. Moreover; it highlights the value of performing region-specific analysis of the bone quality in these patients.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. ann-charlott.soderpalm@vgregion.se
authors: Ann-Charlott
authors: AC
authors: Söderpalm
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Magnusson
authors: Anne-Christine
authors: AC
authors: Åhlander
authors: Jón
authors: J
authors: Karlsson
authors: Anna-Karin
authors: AK
authors: Kroksmark
authors: Már
authors: M
authors: Tulinius
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Swolin-Eide
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult