Mother-caregivers of Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMDK)

The incidence of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is approximately 1 in 3.500 male newborns. During its progression there is loss of mobility, swallowing difficulties and a significant reduction in respiratory capacity. Due to the severity and consequences, is inevitable the need for a caregiver, that normally rely the mother.

The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disease characterized by genetic alteration, whose consequence is the progression of muscle degeneration. The mother-caregiver dedicates herself entirely to her son, putting aside the care of their physical and psychological health. The responsibility and workload to care for the child is high. Because of this extreme amount of work associated with other factors such as stress, this mothers-caregivers are more likely to develop hypertension, respiratory disease, susceptibility to infections, depression, anxiety, insomnia, impaired immune and cardiovascular problems. Moreover, they are more likely to develop sleep disorders, those who may cause a high health risk, since many sleep disorders are related to cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and immune systems.

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Since the mother-caregiver dedicates herself entirely to her son, we will performe overnight polysomnography to assess the sleep pattern.

Insulin, Cortisol, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Total Testosterone, Estradiol, Progesterone, Vitamin B12, Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters.

C-reactive protein (PCR), Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), Complement (C3), Complement (C4), Interleukin 6, Interleukin 10, Interleukin 1β, Interleukin 2, Interleukin 4, Interleukin 8, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Endothelin, Prostaglandin E2, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM), Vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM), Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), Adiponectin, Leptin, Cysteine, Lymphocytes subpopulations (T e B)

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters

Glucose, Total cholesterol and fractions, Triglycerides, Uric acid, Creatinine, Urea, Sodium, Potassium, Hemogram, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Natriuretic Peptide B

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters

Since the mother-caregiver dedicates herself entirely to her son, we will performe overnight polysomnography to assess the sleep pattern.

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters: Insulin Cortisol Luteinizing hormone (LH) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Total Testosterone Estradiol Progesterone Vitamin B12 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters: C-reactive protein (PCR) Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Complement (C3) Complement (C4) Interleukin 6 Interleukin 10 Interleukin 1β Interleukin 2 Interleukin 4 Interleukin 8 Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) Endothelin Prostaglandin E2 Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM) Vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM) Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) Adiponectin Leptin Cysteine Lymphocytes subpopulations (T e B)

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters: Homocysteine Myoglobin Cardiac troponin I Creatine kinase (CK) Creatine kinase MB (CKMB)

To assess the health profile of caregivers-mothers are analyzed some markers that may indicate an impairment or damage to the health of each of the parameters: Glucose Total cholesterol and fractions Triglycerides Uric acid Creatinine Urea Sodium Potassium Hemogram Erythrocyte sedimentation rate Natriuretic Peptide B

Inclusion Criteria: Mothers-caregivers of children and adolescents with DMD Mothers of children and adolescents without any neuromuscular disease and that does not have any chronic disease (bronchiolitis obliterates, cystic fibrosis, a genetic syndrome) Exclusion Criteria: Volunteers with low levels of education (voluntary functional illiterate) that prevents the questionnaires and understanding of the guidelines made Working mothers of nocturnal period

Donders J, Taneja C. Neurobehavioral characteristics of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Child Neuropsychol. 2009 May;15(3):295-304. doi: 10.1080/09297040802665777. Epub 2009 Jan 22.

Draper BM, Poulos CJ, Cole AM, Poulos RG, Ehrlich F. A comparison of caregivers for elderly stroke and dementia victims. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992 Sep;40(9):896-901. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb01986.x.

Fee RJ, Hinton VJ. Resilience in children diagnosed with a chronic neuromuscular disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2011 Nov;32(9):644-50. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e318235d614.