Regional Changes in Bone Area and Bone Mineral Content in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Receiving Corticosteroid Therapy

At baseline reduced mechanical load from diminished muscle function results in narrow light bones more noticeable in the subcranial region than the lumbar spine. Increases observed in subcranial bone area at 30 months suggest a gradual adaptation to increased gravitational load whereas at the spine there were no apparent detrimental effects on bone after 30 months of steroid therapy.