Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Dystrophin associated heart dysfunction is a leading cause of death in patients with Duchenne and Becker Muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) and Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy carriers (MDC); however, the evolution of heart dysfunction is not well-understood. The central objectives of this proposal are to elucidate this evolution of heart dysfunction and identify measures from cardiac MRI images that can predict death or significant heart disease in patients with DMD/BMD/MDC. This study will create a large clinical and cardiac MRI registry of dystrophin associated heart dysfunction, will utilize advanced image analysis techniques, including deep learning neural networks, to comprehensively evaluate every patient, and will create a risk toolkit accessible to clinicians around the world; this proposal has the potential to improve the quality of life in patients with dystrophin associated heart dysfunction by allowing for earlier and more intensive therapy in patients with severe disease and by identifying surrogate outcome measures for use in therapeutic trials.

The purpose of this research study is to determine the potential of a multiparametric ultrasound approach to non-invasively monitor disease progression and to serve as an objective outcome measure for future clinical trials in Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies. The investigators will compare the muscles of ambulatory or non-ambulatory boys/men with Duchenne and Becker Dystrophies with muscles of healthy age-matched individuals of the same age and monitor disease progression in those with muscular dystrophies over a 12-month year period. The ultrafast ultrasound technology used in this study allows the simultaneous assessment of muscle structure, mechanics and physiology, including stiffness, anisotropy, viscosity, intramuscular fat, muscle volume, and microvascular perfusion. The amount of muscle alteration measured will be related to performance in daily activities, such as walking and muscle strength, in order to identify sensitive and objective markers of disease progression.

This study aims to collect retrospective and prospective, long-term data of patients with dystrophinopathy (including Duchenne, Becker, and female carriers) through electronic transfer. At select clinics across the United States, electronic health record (EHR) data from consented patients will be pushed into PPMD's Duchenne Outcomes Research Interchange (the Interchange), where the EHR data can be combined with patient-reported data from The Duchenne Registry. By combining this data in a central hub, we will gain a more complete picture of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, allowing researchers and clinicians to develop treatments faster and to improve and refine the standards of care for Duchenne and Becker. The ultimate goal is to optimize function, quality of life, and survival of Duchenne and Becker patients. EHR data collected will be fully identifiable retrospective data for core clinical data elements going back ten years (as available) from the date of consent; going back one year for retrospective clinical notes from the date of consent; and prospectively collecting both core clinical data elements and clinical notes. Information collected will align with the FHIR U.S. core data elements, also known as the Common Clinical Data Set. PPMD partnered with Prometheus Research (an IQVIA company), an industry leader in health data informatics, to launch both the EHR Study and the Interchange. All data is stored securely and in accordance with strict industry standards and patient privacy laws. Participation in the EHR data extraction is voluntary, and a patient can withdraw consent at any time.

The Duchenne Registry is an online, patient-report registry for individuals with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy and carrier females. The purpose of the Registry is to connect Duchenne and Becker patients with actively recruiting clinical trials and research studies, and to educate patients and families about Duchenne and Becker care and research. At the same time, The Duchenne Registry is a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers in academia and industry, allowing access to de-identified datasets provided by patients and their families-information that is vital to advances in the care and treatment of Duchenne. The Duchenne Registry is a member of the TREAT-NMD Neuromuscular Network.

The goal of this observational study is to investigate whether the type, location, and extent of pathogenic variants in the DMD gene are associated with cardiac dysfunction in male children, adolescents, and young adults with dystrophinopathies. The study also evaluates whether cardiac biomarkers and electrocardiographic findings can facilitate the early identification of cardiac involvement. Participants will undergo electrocardiography, blood sampling for cardiac biomarker assessment, and transthoracic echocardiography, with cardiac dysfunction evaluated using ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS).

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked, recessive, progressive, and degenerative neuromuscular disorder that affects approximately one in 5,000 newborn boys. The established "standard of care" has improved prognosis; however, a causal therapy is not yet available. In 2024 and 2025, the first disease-modifying therapies were approved. These include Vamorolone (Agamree®) as a corticosteroid replacement with a more favorable side-effect profile for children aged four and older, and Givinostat (Duvyzat®) as a combination therapy with corticosteroids for ambulatory boys aged six and older. In this context, the FAIR-DMD Registry was initiated. The registry is based on the so-called FAIR principles. The acronym FAIR stands for the data principles Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. The international FAIR principles are guidelines for the description, storage, and publication of scientific or administrative data. The FAIR-DMD registry is a disease-specific, academically managed registry for patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD). Its goal is to systematically collect clinical data, scientifically monitor new disease-modifying therapies in routine care, and create an evidence-based foundation for the further development of diagnostics, therapy, and care structures. Furthermore, the registry collects data on patients' health related quality of live using an app for data entry. The FAIR-DMD Registry is being established under the auspices of the Society for Neuropediatrics (GNP) and operated in close coordination with Swiss Registry for Neuromuscular Disorders (Swiss-Reg-NMD). The GNP is a non-profit professional society that covers the entire spectrum of neuropediatric topics in clinical and cross-sector care. In the planned pilot phase, the GNP will act as trustee for financing. This model creates the opportunity to structurally address central challenges in health services research and establish a high-quality, internationally compatible registry structure. In the long term, the FAIR-DMD Registry aims to significantly improve care for DMD and BMD patients in German-speaking countries, evaluate the effectiveness of new therapies in clinical practice, and establish binding frameworks for quality-assured care.

Current methods of measuring the response to new treatments for muscular dystrophies involve the examination of small pieces of muscle tissue called biopsies. The investigators are interested in finding less invasive methods that reduce the need for muscle biopsies. The purpose of this research is to learn about the possibility of detecting and measuring the activity and severity of muscular dystrophies by examining a urine sample and a blood sample, and some muscles in the arms and legs using tests called ultrasound and electrical impedance myography; both tests are painless and non-invasive. The information that is gathered from this study may help to evaluate, prevent, diagnose, treat, and improve the understanding of human muscle diseases.

The purpose of this research study is to determine the potential of magnetic resonance imaging, spectroscopy, and whole body imaging to monitor disease progression and to serve as an objective outcome measure for clinical trials in Muscular Dystrophy (MD). The investigators will compare the muscles of ambulatory or non-ambulatory boys/men with DMD with muscles of healthy individuals of the same age and monitor disease progression in those with DMD over a 5-10 year period. The amount of muscle damage and fat that the investigators measure will also be related to performance in daily activities, such as walking and the loss of muscle strength. In a small group of subjects the investigators will also assess the effect of corticosteroid drugs on the muscle measurements. Additionally, the investigators will map the progression of Becker MD following adults with this rare disease. The primary objective is to conduct a multi-centered study to validate the potential of non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to monitor disease progression and to serve as a noninvasive surrogate outcome measure for clinical trials in DMD and BMD. The secondary objective is to characterize the progressive involvement of the lower extremity, upper extremity, trunk/respiratory muscles in boys/men with DMD and BMD guiding clinical trials.

Background and aim: Neuromuscular diseases encompass a range of conditions affecting muscle cells, nerves, or the interaction between the two. A common pathological feature of these conditions is the pro-gressive replacement of muscle tissue with fat, which can be visualised using magnetic reso-nance imaging (MRI). MRI-based fat quantification serves as a key biomarker for disease characterisation, progression tracking, and treatment assessment. Currently, manual segmenta-tion of MRI scans for fat quantification is very time-consuming, requiring individual muscle delineation. Therefore, an artificial intelligence (AI) model is being developed to automate the segmentation. The aim of this study is to validate this AI model and assess its possibilities and limitations. Method: The study is ongoing. Retrospective MRI scans of patients with four different muscle diseases (anoctaminopathy, Becker muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, and hypokalemic periodic paralysis) are collected and manual delineation used for training the AI-model is being performed. The intramuscular fat fraction of individual muscles of the pelvis, thigh, and calf will be analysed using the AI model. The performance of the AI model will be compared to manual segmentation. The AI will be evaluated on metrics such as segmentation accuracy and time efficiency.

CureDuchenne link is a data hub comprised of integrated biospecimens, clinical data, and self- and/or caregiver-reported information from participants. Anyone over 4 weeks old who has been diagnosed with DMD or BMD or who is a carrier of DMD or BMD can join. Parents or legal guardians can sign up their child(ren).

Taking part in community activities is essential for health and well-being. Yet, it is highly restricted for young people with Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies (DBMD), especially as they grow into adulthood. The Participation Pathways and Resources for Engagement and Participation (PREP) intervention is designed to help remove barriers in the environment. This study aims to see if the PREP intervention is useful and practical for youth and young adults with DBMD. The main question is: How useful is the PREP intervention for improving participation in community-based activities chosen by the participants? Participants will start the study at different times (4, 5, or 6 weeks) and work one-on-one with an occupational therapist on a leisure activity of their choice. They will have eight sessions over 12 to 18 weeks to work on this activity. They will use the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) every week to track their performance and satisfaction with the chosen activity before, during, and after the intervention. The findings of this study can guide clinicians, families, and policymakers to select effective approaches that promote the participation of youth and young adults with DBMD in 'real world' activities they choose. It can also increase motivation and compliance and reduce the burden on the healthcare system, families, and people with DBMD themselves.