Corticosteroids for the treatment of duchenne muscular dystrophy: a safety review

Introduction Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a X-linked genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. DMD has effects in early age with significantly shortened lifespan and deteriorated quality of life in the second decade creating an urgent need to develop better therapeutic options. Corticosteroid medication therapy is an integral tool for the management of DMD and several therapeutic options have been recently approved for use.