Anti-coagulant therapy in Childhood Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 12670760
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: OHTANI Yoshinobu Kumamoto University, Medical School, Child Development, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (10168982)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KIMURA Shigemi Kumamoto University, Medical Hospital, Child Development, Assistant, 医学部附属病院, 助手 (60284767) ; MIIKE Teruhisa Kumamoto University, Medical School, Child Development, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (90040617)
• Project Period (FY): 2000 – 2002
• Keywords: muscular dystrophy / DMD / muscle necrosis / muscle blood flow / blood coagulation / anticoagulant

Research Abstract

We report a possible microcirculadon defect in muscle tissue in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) at the preclinical stage, i.e., platelet aggregation in blood vessels. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has the anti-coagulant effect, and it enhances the blood flow volume and then provide vascular coagulation. So, we administered EPA, 300mg/kg/day for 2 weeks, in tube feeding in young three mdx-mouse. During the treatment, creatine kinase (CK) levels were not decreased, and muscle necrotic findings were not improved in muscle biopsy in these mdx-mouse.
Based on the informed consent, we treated EPA, 300mg/day for six months, in 5 DMD patients (age; 5-12 years old). Before the EPA treatment, APTT,ATIII, TAT, and D-dimmer were within normal range in these patients. During the treatment, these data were not changed and CK levels were not decreased. Blood flow volume were measured, in these five DMD patients, using Tissue Oxymeter (PSA-3N) and Power Lab analysis system soft. EPA had no useful effect on the blood flow volume in forearm muscle tissue in these patients.