Acute Myocardial Injury in a Child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Pulse Steroid Therapy?

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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Purification and Transplantation of Myogenic Progenitor Cell Derived Exosomes to Improve Cardiac Function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophic Mice
08:13

Purification and Transplantation of Myogenic Progenitor Cell Derived Exosomes to Improve Cardiac Function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophic Mice

Published on: April 10, 2019

6.5K

Eliza Cinteza1, Claudiu Stoicescu2, Niculina Butoianu3

  • 1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, "Marie Curie" Emergency Children's Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.

Maedica
|December 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This case study shows that increasing prednisone dosage and adding enalapril can rapidly improve cardiac function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients experiencing myocardial infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) commonly leads to dilated cardiomyopathy, causing heart failure and arrhythmias.
  • Prednisone is a standard preventive treatment for DMD-related cardiac deterioration.
  • Myocardial infarction is a rare but serious complication in DMD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of myocardial infarction in an 11-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
  • To investigate the effectiveness of intensified prednisone and enalapril treatment in managing this cardiac event.

Main Methods:

  • A DMD patient on prednisone and metoprolol presented with symptoms of myocardial infarction.
  • Diagnostic tools included electrocardiogram, troponin T levels, echocardiography, and coronary angiography.
  • Treatment involved increasing prednisone dosage and initiating enalapril.

Main Results:

  • The patient showed ST elevation, significantly elevated troponin T, and reduced left ventricular contractility.
  • Coronary angiography excluded primary coronary artery disease.
  • The intensified treatment led to a rapid decrease in troponin T and gradual recovery of myocardial function.

Conclusions:

  • This case highlights a potential therapeutic approach for myocardial infarction in DMD patients.
  • Prompt adjustment of immunosuppressive and heart failure medications may improve cardiac outcomes in DMD.

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