Low-dose prednisolone treatment in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.

Forty-one boys, aged 4.0-19.4 yr, with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy, took part in a 12-month randomized, double-blind cross-over trial in which the patients received 0.35 mg kg-1 day-1 prednisolone for six months and placebo for six months. One patient stopped the treatment because of excessive weight gain. The boys were assessed every third month with a comprehensive test battery of muscle force and function. The results support earlier reports that prednisolone treatment can either improve muscle force and function or diminish the deterioration of muscle function in both Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.