Quantitative muscle ultrasound detects disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We assessed changes in quantitative muscle ultrasound data in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and healthy controls to determine whether ultrasound can serve as a biomarker of disease progression. Two approaches were used: gray scale level (GSL), measured from the ultrasound image, and quantitative backscatter analysis (QBA), measured directly from the received echoes.

Methods

GSL and QBA were obtained from 6 unilateral arm/leg muscles in 36 boys with DMD and 28 healthy boys (age = 2-14 years) for up to 2 years. We used a linear mixed effects model with random intercept and slope terms to compare trajectories of GSL, QBA, and functional assessments. We analyzed separately a subset of boys who initiated corticosteroids.

Results

Compared to healthy

SUBMITTER: Zaidman CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5444989 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature