Clinical Trial: High-dose Prednisone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: A Randomized Study of Daily vs. High-dose Weekly Prednisone Therapy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Brief Summary: This study will help to determine whether a high-dose weekly course of prednisone therapy is safer than and at least as effective as daily dose therapy for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Boys who are enrolled in this study should not have taken carnitine, other amino acids, creatine, glutamine, Coenzyme Q10 or any herbal medicines within the last three months. There will be a two-visit screening to take place in one week to ensure a reproducible manual muscle test. The subject will then be randomized and put into either the daily or weekly regimen. The duration of the study is twelve 28-day treatment cycles (approximately 12 months) with follow-up visits at month one, three and then every three months.

Detailed Summary: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common lethal inherited disorder worldwide. Despite the exponential increase in our understanding of the disorder since the discovery and characterization of the causative gene and its product dystrophin in 1987, current therapeutic management remains largely supportive. Awaiting a final genetic cure to be available in the future, further investments in developing better drug therapies for DMD remain important. The effect of a high dose prednisone regimen will be evaluated in comparison to a daily dose regimen in a multi-center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled 4-arm study. Ambulant children aged 4-10 years with an established DMD diagnosis will be studied. Patients will undergo 2 screening evaluations within 1 week. Patients will be randomized into treatment groups on the second screening visit, followed by a 12-month treatment period. During the treatment period, patients will be evaluated at monthly intervals. The primary endpoints are percentage change in average muscle strength score and QMT performance for specific muscle groups. Secondary endpoints include timed function tests, functional grades for arms and legs, and pulmonary function tests.
Sponsor: Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Quantitative muscle strength will be measured using the CINRG Quantitative Measurement System (CQMS) [ Time Frame: February 2008 ]
  • Primary strength endpoints will be quantitative myometry (QMT) scores of the upper and lower extremities, consisting of paired flexor/extensor groups. [ Time Frame: February 2008 ]


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Quantitative muscle strength will be measured using the Pediatric Quantitative Measurement System (PQMS)
  • Primary strength endpoints will be quantitative myometry (QMT) scores of the upper and lower extremities, consisting of paired flexor/extensor groups.


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Secondary strength endpoints will include individual QMT scores of elbow and knee flexors and extensors and hand grip, manual muscle testing scores, which will be measured using the Medical Research Council's (MRC) muscle strength scoring method. [ Time Frame: February 2008 ]
  • Side-effect profiles will assessed by monitoring side-effects, including differences in growth (height and weight), calculated weight/height ratio, bone density, cataract formation, blood glucose, blood pressure and behavioral changes. [ Time Frame: February 2008 ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Secondary strength endpoints will include individual QMT scores of elbow and knee flexors and extensors and hand grip, manual muscle testing scores, which will be measured using the Medical Research Council's (MRC) muscle strength scoring method.

Information By: Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group

Dates:
Date Received: May 12, 2005
Date Started: January 2004
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 26, 2011
Last Verified: October 2011