title: Daily prednisone treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy in southwest China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we aimed to determine the influence of daily prednisone treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) by performing a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in southwestern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six children with DMD (4-12 years of age) were divided randomly into prednisone and placebo groups. Efficacy and safety of daily prednisone at 0.75 mg/kg/day were evaluated over 12 months by muscle strength and function, quality of life (QoL), quantitative muscle ultrasound (QMUS), and side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in muscle strength and function, QoL, and QMUS were observed in the prednisone group compared with the placebo-treated group (P < 0.05). Changes in body weight, height, body mass index, and diastolic blood pressure were similar in both groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study in southwestern China found that daily prednisone at 0.75 mg/kg/day is suitable for children with DMD. It slowed disease progression and improved QoL and QMUS. Moderate side effects were generally well tolerated.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.|Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Yuanzhen
authors: Y
authors: Ye
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Kong
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Siqi
authors: S
authors: Hong
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Cheng
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Ultrasound, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Qiao
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Orthopedics, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Jiaqiang
authors: J
authors: Qin
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Molecular Medicine Center, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Zou
authors: Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, No. 136 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.|Key Laboratory of Pediatrics Chongqing, Chongqing, China.|Chongqing International Science, Technology Cooperations Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.|Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; children; efficacy; prednisone; safety