title: Bone density and alendronate effects in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with DMD have low bone mineral density (BMD) and are at high risk for fractures. We examined changes in BMD and the effects of alendronate in DMD patients treated at our institution in the last decade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study of 39 DMD patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients had screening dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at an average age of 12 years. The vast majority had low Z-scores at the total hip and lumbar spine. Patients treated with glucocorticoids had a significantly lower Z-score at the spine than those not treated with glucocorticoids. Z-scores at the hip trended down without alendronate (P = 0.07) and trended up with alendronate (P = 0.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By age 12 years, most patients with DMD had low Z-scores. They may have benefitted from earlier screening. Z-score at the hip trended downward without alendronate and trended upward (stabilized) with alendronate, but these trends were not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, E 426 GH, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shibli-Rahhal
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019386:Alendronate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate
keywords: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; alendronate; bone; glucocorticoids; osteoporosis