Frequency of cardiac affection in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients and carriers in Ain Shams University hospitals

Abstract

ith the continuous improvement of the respiratory care of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, cardiac manifestations (heart failure and arrhythmias) become the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Early identification of cardiac muscle affection is crucial to start anti-failure drugs that reverse remodeling and improve prognosis. This study aimed to detect subtle cardiac changes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients and carriers using electrocardiography and echocardiography. This study included genetically diagnosed Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients (29 males) and carriers (25 females) and compared them to healthy gender-matched control groups. All study participants were subjected to clinical assessment, 12-lead electrocardiography, global longitudinal strain augmented echocardiography. In the current study, Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients had higher heart rates, smaller left ventricular diameters, lower ejection fraction, and worse left ventricular global longitudinal strain in comparison to the control group. Global longitudinal strain was inversely correlated with the age of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.