ESPE Abstracts (2018) 89 P-P1-031

ESPE2018 Poster Presentations Bone, Growth Plate & Mineral Metabolism P1 (15 abstracts)

Systematic Screening Using DXA Lateral Vertebral Morphometry is Associated with a High Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Results from ScOT-DMD Study

Shuko Joseph a, , Sheila Shepherd c , Marina Di Marco d , Jennifer Dunne b , Martin McMillan c , Iain Horrocks b , S Faisal Ahmed c & Sze Choong Wong c


aDevelopmental Endocrinology Research Group The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK; bPaediatric Neurosciences Research Group, The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK; cDevelopmental Endocrinology Research Group, The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK; dWest of Scotland Genetic Services, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK


Background: The prevalence of vertebral fractures (VF) in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is currently unknown as systematic spine imaging is rarely performed.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of VF in DMD and factors associated with VF.

Method: A prospective study utilising systematic screening with DXA vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) was performed in all 47 eligible boys. 6/47 were excluded due to spinal instrumentations and movement artefacts. Presence and grade of VF were determined by the Genant method by two independent observers and any disagreement resolved by consensus agreement with a third observer. Results expressed as median (range).

Results: Of 41 boys aged 9.9 years (5.0, 18.3), 37(90%) had been on glucocorticoid (GC) for 3.8 yrs (0.2, 13.4) and three were GC naïve. Eighteen (43.9%) boys were non-ambulant for 2.1 yrs (0.3, 6.5). Four boys were on testosterone, and nine on bisphosphonate. Height and BMI SDS were −1.5(−7.0, +2.3) and +2.0(−1.4, +4.0), respectively. Total body less head bone mineral content (BMC) SDS was −1.4(−4.3, +1.2) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) SDS was −0.8(−3.0, +0.9). Bone turnover was low with bone alkaline phosphatase and c-terminal telopeptide SDS of −1.5(−2.8, −0.3) and −2.0(−3.3, +0.1), respectively. 10/41 boys (24.3%) had non-VF only. A total of 8/41 (19.5%) had evidence of VF from DXA-VFA, including one boy with VF and non-VF. Of eight with VF, four(50%) had newly diagnosed VF identified from DXA-VFA. Of 43 VFs identified in the eight boys, 11 (26%), 21 (48%) and 11 (26%) were grade 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The distribution of VFs was bimodal with most occurring at T7 and T12. Back pain was only reported in 2/8 (25%) with VFs. There were no differences in mobility [P=0.70], 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (P=0.87) and LS-BMAD S.D.S. (P=0.73) in those with or without VF. Odds of VF increased by 1.5 times (95% CI:1.03 to 2.20, P=0.04) for every 1-year-increase in GC exposure after adjusting for GCdose, mobility, back pain and LS-BMAD SDS.

Conclusion: In this cohort of DMD boys with relatively short duration of GC exposure, VF was present in approximately 20%. Of those, half were identified only from screening DXA-VFA. DXA bone density was not discriminatory for VF. Our result provides the evidence-base for the recommendation of routine spine imaging for vertebral fractures in DMD in the new international DMD standards of care (2018).

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.