Serum Creatinine Level: A Supplemental Index to Distinguish Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy from Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Abstract

Background. To improve assessment of dystrophinopathy, the aim of this study was to identify whether serum creatinine (Crn) level reflects disease severity. Methods. Biochemical, Vignos score, and genetic data were collected on 212 boys with dystrophinopathy. Results. Serum Crn level had a strong inverse correlation with Vignos score by simple correlation (r = −0.793) and partial correlation analysis after adjustment for age, height, and weight (r = −0.791; both P < 0.01). Serum Crn level was significantly higher in patients with in-frame than out-of-frame mutations (Z = −4.716, P < 0.01) and in Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients than Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients at ages 4, 5, 7, and 9 yr (all P < 0.0125). After adjusting for age, height, and weight, BMD patients still had a significantly higher serum Crn level than DMD patients (β = 7.140, t = 6.277, P < 0.01). Conclusions. Serum Crn level reflected disease severity and may serve as a supplemental index to distinguish DMD from BMD in clinical practice.

Discovery of Metabolic Biomarkers for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy within a Natural History Study

“…With loss of muscle mass in DMD there is a decrease in production of creatinine while creatine that is synthesized by the liver stays at a steady level. These results are also in agreement with a recent study which considers serum creatinine in DMD and the less severe Becker muscular dystrophy phenotype, showing an inverse correlation with a number of measures of disease severity [ 37 ], given that in our study creatinine is higher in controls compared to cases and shows a slight decrease in cases with age, which is correlated with disease severity.…”

Cross‐sectional serum metabolomic study of multiple forms of muscular dystrophy

“…The results of our analysis confirm a decrease in creatinine and an increase in creatine serum levels likely due to the insufficient creatine utilization by muscles. 19,32 Creatine (from the Greek jqέaς, Creatinine, that represents its degradation product and is present in urine and blood, is usually considered a marker of renal function. severely affected DMD patients postulating its use as a marker of disease progression.…”

Clinical utility of serum biomarkers in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

“…These included metabolites, miRNA and proteins. While miRNAs and proteins have been well developed in the past 5 years, only few studies have been published on metabolite biomarkers in DMD [ 30 ]. In this review we will focus mostly on recent development of miRNA and protein as biomarkers for DMD.…”