Influence of Different Types of Corticosteroids on Heart Rate Variability of Individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy—A Pilot Cross Sectional Study
Rodrigo Martins Dias,
Rosangela Akemi Hoshi,
Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei,
Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro,
Mayra Priscila Boscolo Alvarez,
Tânia Brusque Crocetta,
Luis Fernando Grossklauss,
Deborah Cristina Gonçalves Luiz Fernani,
Maria Tereza Artero Prado Dantas,
Fabiana Paula Almeida Martins,
David M. Garner,
Luiz Carlos Abreu,
Celso Ferreira,
Talita Dias da Silva
Affiliations
Rodrigo Martins Dias
Postgraduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology) at Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 04024-002, Brazil
Rosangela Akemi Hoshi
Cardiology Department, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Science and Technology, FCT/UNESP, Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil
Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo 05360-160, Brazil
Mayra Priscila Boscolo Alvarez
Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo 05360-160, Brazil
Tânia Brusque Crocetta
Laboratório de Psicologia do Esporte e do Exercício, Centro de Ciências da Saúde e do Esporte, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88035-001, Brazil
Luis Fernando Grossklauss
Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, Neuropediatrist at the Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-002, Brazil
Deborah Cristina Gonçalves Luiz Fernani
Department of Health Sciences, University of Western Paulista (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente 19050-920, Brazil
Maria Tereza Artero Prado Dantas
Department of Health Sciences, University of Western Paulista (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente 19050-920, Brazil
Fabiana Paula Almeida Martins
Study Design and Scientific Writing Laboratory, ABC Medical School (FMABC), Santo André 09060-870, Brazil
David M. Garner
Cardiorespiratory Research Group, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Headington Campus, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
Luiz Carlos Abreu
Department of Integrated Health Education, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29040-090, Brazil
Celso Ferreira
Postgraduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology) at Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 04024-002, Brazil
Talita Dias da Silva
Postgraduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology) at Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 04024-002, Brazil
Individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) have an impairment of cardiac autonomic function categorized by parasympathetic reduction and sympathetic predominance. The objective of this study was to assess the cardiac autonomic modulation of individuals with DMD undergoing therapy with Prednisone/Prednisolone and Deflazacort and compare with individuals with DMD without the use of these medications and a typically developed control group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was completed, wherein 40 boys were evaluated. The four treatment groups were: Deflazacort; Prednisone/Prednisolone; no corticoid use; and typical development. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was investigated via linear indices (Time Domain and Frequency Domain) and non-linear indices Results: The results of this study revealed that individuals with DMD undertaking pharmacotherapies with Prednisolone demonstrated HRV comparable to the Control Typically Developed (CTD) group. In contrast, individuals with DMD undergoing pharmacotherapies with Deflazacort achieved lower HRV, akin to individuals with DMD without any medications, as demonstrated in the metrics: RMSSD; LF (n.u.), HF (n.u.), LF/HF; SD1, α1, and α1/α2, and a significant effect for SD1/SD2; %DET and Ratio; Shannon Entropy, 0 V%, 2 LV% and 2 ULV%. Conclusions: Corticosteroids have the potential to affect the cardiac autonomic modulation in adolescents with DMD. The use of Prednisone/Prednisolone appears to promote improved responses in terms of sympathovagal activity as opposed to Deflazacort.