Optimum Insufflation Capacity in NMD
Duchenne Muscular DystrophySpinal Muscular Atrophy1 morePatients with underlying neuromuscular disorder (NMD) often suffer from weakness in the inspiratory and expiratory muscles. Consequently they do not have the strength to generate the minimum flow of 160 to 300 liters/minute for an efficient cough function. The restricted cough function allows secretion to accumulate, which in turn causes narrowing of the airway lumen and makes ventilation of the neuromuscular patient even more difficult. The patient's susceptibility to infection increases again and the vicious circle repeats itself. Severe secretion retention may even lead to ventilator failure. Effective secretion and cough management instead reduces the risk for stay in hospital. Therefore, secretion and cough management is a mandatory part of the therapeutic concept for treating patients with neuromuscular disease. The therapeutic efficacy of the Lung Insufflation Assist Maneuver(LIA) integrated in the ventilator VENTIlogic LS-plus manufactured by Weinmann GmbH+Co KG was studied in a pilot study carried out by the Dep. for Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at the University Hospital of Essen/Germany in cooperation with Research & Development at Weinmann GmbH &Co KG, Germany . The objective of the pilot study was to examine the therapeutic efficacy of LIAM as a cough support function in patients with neuromuscular disease and indications for mechanical ventilation. We hypothesized that i) a certain insufflation maneuver pressure may be optimal to achieve the highest individual peak cough flow and ii) that this pressure is below the pressure needed to achieve the maximum insufflation capacity. We define the lowest insufflation capacity at which the best individual PCF can be achieved as optimum insufflation capacity (OIC). The study was performed using two different techniques in order to demonstrate that findings are not dependent on maneuver details but are rather based on effects of maneuver pressure. The protocol was limited to techniques which do not require breath stacking: i) insufflation with an Intermittend Positive Pressure (IPPB) device and ii) with the VENTIlogic LS using LIAM.
Gene Transfer Clinical Trial for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Using rAAVrh74.MCK.GALGT2
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyThe proposed clinical trial study of rAAVrh74.MCK.GALGT2 for duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients that will involve direct intramuscular injection to the extensor digitorum brevis muscle (EDB).
Telerehabilitation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive inherited disease that affects the muscles and causes functional limitations to varying degrees. It is vital to start physiotherapy follow-ups immediately after diagnosis. Patients with DMD are among the most vulnerable groups who have problems in accessing physiotherapy services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the telerehabilitation program developed to protect the physical health of patients with DMD and not to interrupt their follow-up.
A Study of Deflazacort (Emflaza®) in Participants With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyThe primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of a 0.9 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and 0.45 mg/kg daily dose of deflazacort with a comparable natural history control group after 52 weeks of treatment in males with DMD aged greater than or equal to (>=) 2 to lesser than (<) 5 years. The study will comprise of 2 periods (Period 1: 52-week safety and pharmacokinetics [PK], and Period 2: 52-week extension). Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of 2 treatment arms: 0.9 mg/kg deflazacort, and 0.45 mg/kg of deflazacort. A historic control group (which should match the study population as closely as possible) will be used as a comparator to characterize the safety and tolerability of deflazacort.
Whole Body Vibration Therapy in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyWhole-body vibration therapy (WBVT) is a novel, non-pharmacological intervention aimed at improving muscle strength and endurance as well as bone density. It holds promise for children with neuromuscular disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) since muscle weakness results not only from muscle breakdown but also physical inactivity and muscle disuse atrophy. Weak DMD patients may increasingly limit their physical activity due to fear of falling or loss of independence (e.g. difficulty rising to stand without assistance). Prolonging the length of time boys with DMD are ambulatory is important for delaying complications of this disease (lung hypoventilation, scoliosis) as well as maintaining bone health. We propose to conduct a pilot study of WBVT in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The primary outcome will be to document safety and feasibility of WBVT in this patient population. The secondary outcomes will evaluate changes in muscle strength and endurance. Bone health will also be examined as part of routine clinical care. The study will include 20 ambulatory boys with DMD; patients will be randomized (1:1 allocation) into 2 groups: WBVT treatment or no WBVT treatment (controls). Treatment groups will consist of 10 boys undergoing daily WBVT in an 8-week, open-label trial.
Effect of EPA and DHA in the Inflammation and Metabolic Disorders in DMD/DMB Patients
Muscular DystrophyDuchenneThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of docosahexaenoic fatty acid and eicosapentaenoic fatty acid supplementation for six months on the inflammation state as well as the process of muscular regeneration and the metabolic disorders like obesity and insulin resistance in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMB) compared to those receiving placebo.
Wearable Technology to Evaluate Hyperglycemia and HRV in DMD - Longitudinal Aim
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disorder that causes muscle wasting, cardiopulmonary failure, and premature death. Heart failure is a leading cause of death in DMD, but substantial knowledge gaps exist regarding predisposing risk factors. In the general population, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and decreased heart rate variability (HRV; reflecting autonomic dysfunction) are associated with cardiomyopathy (CM). It is unclear whether these factors are associated with DMD-CM. Closing this knowledge gap may lead to novel screening and therapeutic strategies to delay progression of DMD related CM. Despite risk factors for hyperglycemia, including the use of glucocorticoids, low muscle mass, obesity, and reduced ambulation, little is known regarding glucose abnormalities in DMD. Some of these same risk factors, along with the distance needed to travel for specialty care, present significant barriers to research participation and clinical care for individuals with DMD. Remote wearable technology may improve research participation in this vulnerable population. Therefore, this study will leverage remote wearable technologies to overcome these barriers and define the relationship between dysglycemia and DMD-CM. In this Aim of the study, the investigators will assess the utility of remote wearable technology to predict changes in traditional metrics of metabolism and cardiac function. In this pilot study, 10 individuals with DMD will undergo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) at baseline and two years. The investigators will remotely assess glycemia (using continuous glucose monitors), HRV (using extended Holter monitors), and activity (using accelerometers) every 6 months over the 2 years and evaluate if changes in wearable metrics predict changes in CMR and OGTT.
NSAA NON-Interventional Study Protocol
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyThe purpose of this non-interventional study is to evaluate the feasibility of remotely administering the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) to participants with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The iTakeControl (iTC) software platform will be utilized to remotely administer and score the NSAAs.
Correlation Between Functional Capacity and Functional Capability in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy...
Duchenne Muscular DystrophyThis study investigates the correlation between assessments measuring functional capacity and functional capability in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Follow-up Study on Female Carriers With DMD Gene Variants
Muscular DystrophyDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy1 moreBackground Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies are X-linked recessive allelic disorders caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene on chromosome Xp21. Female carriers may pass on the pathogenic variant to their daughters, resulting in a significant number of female carriers of pathogenic DMD variants. There was a large variability in the severity of symptoms with some being asymptomatic and some having severe symptoms. Skewed X-Chromosome Inactivation (XCI) might explain some of this variability. But now, the underlying cause of the large variability in phenotype is therefore uncertain. Aim To describe the change over a 6-year follow-up period in the structure and function of the heart and in function and muscle fat fraction in skeletal muscle of DMD/BMD carriers. To explain the relationship between the XCI and the severity of the disease (phenotype). To compare cardiac affection of female carriers of DMD/BMD to patients with BMD using new cardiac MRI techniques (spectroscopy and Dixon sequences). Methods This study contains three parts: Part 1 is a 6-year follow-up on 53 genetically verified female carriers of pathogenic DMD variants initially investigated in 2016-2018 at Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Rigshospitalet (Ethical journal no. H-16035677). In this part, the same 53 females will be investigated with the same measurements as 6 years ago to describe the progression of symptoms. All the follow-up results from this study will be compared to the results from 6 years ago. In Part 2 a muscle biopsy will be taken from 1-3 muscles (see "3.3.3 Description of outcomes) to investigate the XCI. To correlate the XCI to the phenotype, these patients will also undergo a muscle MRI and a Medical Research Council scale score for muscle strength (MRC). In Part 3 The cardiac structure and function in patients with BMD will be investigated using a cardiac MRI to compare the findings with that of female carriers. An MRC will carried out to investigate if the heart affection correlates to the muscle affection. Female carriers can decide whether to participate in Part 1, Part 2, or both. Patient with BMD can only participate in Part 3.