Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39648958›Full record

ArticleMuscle & nerve2025

Bone Health Determinants in Ambulant Prepubertal Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Treated With Deflazacort: Findings From a 3-Year Study.

Chiara Panicucci, Sara Casalini, Alessia Angelelli, Noemi Brolatti, Marina Pedemonte, Giuseppa Patti, Mohamad Maghnie, Claudio Bruno, Natascia Di Iorgi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Muscle & nerve, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Exploring the natural history of bone mineral density in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a systematic literature review.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Prevalence and risk factors of bone fragility in duchenne muscular dystrophy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2026
    Review
  4. Vertebral fractures and muscle function in glucocorticoid-treated individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a cohort study.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Chiara PanicucciCentre of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4571-611X
Sara CasaliniCentre of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Alessia AngelelliDepartment of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Noemi BrolattiCentre of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Marina PedemontePediatric Neurology and Muscle Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Giuseppa PattiDepartment of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Mohamad MaghnieDepartment of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Claudio BrunoCentre of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
Natascia Di IorgiDepartment of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.

Funding

Fondazione Telethon-UILDM GUP23005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/

aimsDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is complicated by bone fragility. This study aimed to elucidate changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition over time and to explore associations with adiposity measures in DMD.

methodsA three-year follow-up analysis was performed of total body (TB) and lumbar spine (LS) dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements, anthropometric measures, Tanner stage and bone turnover biomarkers assessments, and the incidence of fragility fractures in 26 ambulant prepubertal DMD patients treated with deflazacort (DFZ).

resultsAge at baseline was 7.7 years (interquartile range: 6-9.2). The TB BMD Z-score declined over time and was negatively related to the TB fat mass percentage and fat mass index (p < 0.05), but not to body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS). In contrast LS bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) Z-score remained stable and normal. The cumulative incidence of fragility fractures was 19.2%; DMD boys with fractures displayed a 1.5-fold higher decline of TB BMD Z-score/year (p < 0.05) and a worse adiposity profile compared to fracture-free patients. No difference was found in DFZ dose or duration between the two groups. DISCUSSION: We observed a high incidence of fragility fractures, and identified fat tissue as a potential detrimental factor for bone health, suggesting a need for monitoring in DMD patients with excessive adiposity. Fat mass measures assessed by DXA could help to identify those at risk, enabling targeted interventions for better bone health. The co-occurrence of multiple glucocorticoid side effects might characterize patients at higher risk of fractures.

Indexed as

Absorptiometry, PhotonBone DensityMuscular Dystrophy, DuchennePregnenedionesBody CompositionBone Density Conservation AgentsChildFollow-Up StudiesFractures, BoneHumansMaleBone Density Conservation AgentsdeflazacortPregnenedionesbone fragilityDuchenne muscular dystrophyDXA bone mineral densityosteoporosis

Identifiers

PMID39648958
PMCPMC11708446

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.