[Allopurinol in progressive muscular dystrophy (author's transl)]

Authors have treated with allopurinol ten children with progressive muscular dystrophy, whose ages were between 15 months to eleven years. An initial and monthly clinical evaluation of muscular strength, Gowers's sign and pseudohypertrophy was performed. Monthly determinations of CPK, LDH, aldolase, GOT and serum urate; every two months electromyography was also made. In three patients a complete recovery of strength, Gowers's sign was found and at the same time pseudohypertrophy diminished; the age average was three years and four months. In four patients a partial recovery was found; the age average was nine years and four months. In three patients there was no answer to treatment, they were contracted and had deformities, being age average ten years. No variations on monthly controls of CPK, LDH, aldolase and GOT were observed. On these facts their opinion is that allopurinol is an effective drug in the treatment of progressive muscular dystrophy and that its' effectivity is better when treatment is initiated early and, of course, before patients present deformities and contractures.