Growth hormone and testosterone delay vertebral fractures in boys with muscular dystrophy on chronic glucocorticoids
Authors' conclusion
GH and testosterone each decreased VF risk in patients independent of or in combination with ZA, respectively.
Study context
- Population
- Males with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy (dystrophinopathies) on chronic GC
- Participants
- 27 males
- Exposure
- Growth hormone (GH), testosterone and/or zoledronic acid (ZA) vs ZA alone
- Outcome
- Time to next vertebral fracture (VF) (failure time ratio; >1 prolonged, <1 shorter)
Methodological detailslongitudinal, accelerated failure time models, multivariable analysis
- Longitudinal
- Accelerated failure time models
- Multivariable analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Time to next VF, failure time ratio
- GH or testosterone · multivariable
- failure time ratio 1.253; P < 0.001
- GH · analysed independently from testosterone
- failure time ratio 1.229; P < 0.001
- ZA with GH or testosterone
- failure time ratio 1.171; P < 0.001
- Testosterone · with ZA
- failure time ratio 1.130; P = 0.033
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence of endocrine/skeletal complications and treatment use
- Growth impairment (52% utilized GH)
- 96%
- Pubertal delay (72% utilized testosterone)
- 86%
- Low trauma fractures (72% utilized ZA)
- 87%
Original publication
Growth hormone and testosterone delay vertebral fractures in boys with muscular dystrophy on chronic glucocorticoids. Osteoporos Int. Published 23 October 2023. doi:10.
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