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MR biomarkers predict clinical function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Barnard AM, Willcocks RJ, Triplett WT, Forbes SC, Daniels MJ, Chakraborty S, Lott DJ, Senesac CR, Finanger EL, Harrington AT, Tennekoon G, Arora H, Wang DJ, Sweeney HL, Rooney WD, Walter GA, Vandenborne K. MR biomarkers predict clinical function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neurology. 2020 Mar 3;94(9):e897-e909. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009012. Epub 2020 Feb 5. PMID: 32024675; PMCID: PMC7238941.

Objective: To investigate the potential of lower extremity magnetic resonance (MR) biomarkers to serve as endpoints in clinical trials of therapeutics for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) by characterizing the longitudinal progression of MR biomarkers over 48 months and assessing their relationship to changes in ambulatory clinical function.


Methods: One hundred sixty participants with DMD were enrolled in this longitudinal, natural history study and underwent MR data acquisition of the lower extremity muscles to determine muscle fat fraction (FF) and MRI T2 biomarkers of disease progression. In addition, 4 tests of ambulatory function were performed. Participants returned for follow-up data collection at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months.


Results: Longitudinal analysis of the MR biomarkers revealed that vastus lateralis FF, vastus lateralis MRI T2, and biceps femoris long head MRI T2 biomarkers were the fastest progressing biomarkers over time in this primarily ambulatory cohort. Biomarker values tended to demonstrate a nonlinear, sigmoidal trajectory over time. The lower extremity biomarkers predicted functional performance 12 and 24 months later, and the magnitude of change in an MR biomarker over time was related to the magnitude of change in function. Vastus lateralis FF, soleus FF, vastus lateralis MRI T2, and biceps femoris long head MRI T2 were the strongest predictors of future loss of function, including loss of ambulation.


Conclusions: This study supports the strong relationship between lower extremity MR biomarkers and measures of clinical function, as well as the ability of MR biomarkers, particularly those from proximal muscles, to predict future ambulatory function and important clinical milestones.
Clinicaltrialsgov identifier: NCT01484678. © 2020 American Academy of Neurology.

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Null.
I can’t say enough positive things about the entire team. Everyone has consistently gone out of their way to accommodate us & support us. We’ve been participating for so many years that our annual trips feel like we’re reuniting with our good friends.
WY
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Null.
Very important if we can eliminate intrusive biopsies as a necessary requirement for clinical trial evaluation. MRIs are a much preferred “gold standard”.
KT
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Null.
The study has been very exciting. Discovering new tools that can help in the development of more studies and clinical trials for Becker muscular dystrophy. I feel like people are beginning to recognize BMD now.
JV

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