EFFECTS OF SIMULTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF DIETHYLSTILBESTROL AND PREDNISOLONE ON SERUM ENZYMES IN DUCHENNES MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (2) , 123-134
Abstract
The effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and prednisolone (Pr), administered alone or in combination, on the serum enzyme activities in Duchenne''s muscular dystrophy (DMD) were evaluated. When DES and Pr were given simultaneously to 4 boys with DMD, the mean creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels fell to about 1/2 those achieved with either agent alone. No untoward or unexpected side effects were encountered. Thus, as previously demonstrated, both agents reduce enzyme efflux from skeletal muscle, and suggest that a safe combination therapy may be found which approximately normalizes the serum enzymes in DMD. The hypothesis can then be tested that lowering the serum enzymes by reducing their loss from skeletal muscle can slow or arrest the muscle deterioration characteristic of this disease.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: