Cardiac Consequences to Skeletal Muscle-Centric Therapeutics for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

De Wayne Townsend, Soichiro Yasuda, Jeffrey Chamberlain, Joseph M. Metzger

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal disease of muscle deterioration. Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects all striated muscles in the body, including the heart. Recent advances in palliative care, largely directed at improving respiratory function, have extended life but paradoxically further unmasked emergent heart disease in DMD patients. New experimental strategies have shown promise in restoring dystrophin in the skeletal muscles of dystrophin- deficient animals. These strategies often have little or no capacity for restitution of dystrophin in the hearts of these animals. This article draws on both clinical data and recent experimental data to posit that effective skeletal muscle restricted therapies for DMD will paradoxically heighten cardiomyopathy and heart failure in these patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)49-54
Number of pages6
JournalTrends in Cardiovascular Medicine
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009

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