Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Biomarkers for Muscular Dystrophy
University of Florida
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to determine the potential of magnetic resonance imaging, spectroscopy, and whole body imaging to monitor disease progression and to serve as an objective outcome measure for clinical trials in Muscular Dystrophy (MD). The investigators will compare the muscles of ambulatory or non-ambulatory boys/men with DMD with muscles of healthy individuals of the same age and monitor disease progression in those with DMD over a 5-10 year period. The amount of muscle damage and fat that the investigators measure will also be related to performance in daily activities, such as walking and the loss of muscle strength. In a small group of subjects the investigators will also assess the effect of corticosteroid drugs on the muscle measurements. Additionally, the investigators will map the progression of Becker MD following adults with this rare disease. The primary objective is to conduct a multi-centered study to validate the potential of non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to monitor disease progression and to serve as a noninvasive surrogate outcome measure for clinical trials in DMD and BMD. The secondary objective is to characterize the progressive involvement of the lower extremity, upper extremity, trunk/respiratory muscles in boys/men with DMD and BMD guiding clinical trials.
Description
The overall objective of this proposal is to validate the potential of noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) to monitor disease progression and to serve as an outcome measure for clinical trials in muscular dystrophies. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most devastating genetically linked neuromuscular diseases and is characterized by the absence of dystrophin, resulting in progressive muscle weakness, loss of walking ability and premature death. Despite the poor prognosis therapeutic interventions have been lacking, and outcome measures for clinical…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 5–62 years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria for boys with DMD: 1\. Ambulatory and non-ambulatory males (ages 5-30 at baseline testing) previously diagnosed with DMD based on: * clinical features with onset of symptoms before age five * elevated serum creatine kinase level or * absence of dystrophin expression, as determined by immunostain or western blot (\<2%) and/or DNA confirmation of a dystrophin mutation \*Subjects will not be excluded based on corticosteroid treatment or other clinical trials Inclusion Criteria for adults with Becker MD: 1. Ambulatory males (ages 18-62) without disease or injury to the lower…
Locations (3)
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida
- Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortland, Oregon
- Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania