Deflazacort 1mg tablets

Deflazacort exerts anti-inflammatory activity in DMD, likely improving various symptoms, including muscle weakness and cardiorespiratory symptoms in addition to delaying their onset.[A179455] This allows for an increased quality of life and prevents the necessity for surgical procedures, such as those for scoliosis, which is associated with DMD. Studies showed significant preservation of muscle mass in patients generally treated with 0.9 mg/kg/day of deflazacort compared to a control group. The following findings are based on clinical studies using deflazacort on a long term basis[A179455][A179458]:

Effects on muscle strength

At age 16, individuals treated with long-term deflazacort had 63 ± 4% score in muscle strength compared to a mean muscle strength score of 31 ± 3% for control patients[A179455]. Significant improvements in climbing stairs and rising from a supine position were also seen in patients taking deflazacort.[A179455]

Effects on ambulation

Ambulation was significantly higher by 12 years of age and 18 years of age in patients taking deflazacort when compared with the control group. The control group showed a mean loss of ambulation of 2 years sooner than with deflazacort treatment.[A179458]

Effects on cardiac function

Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (a measure of cardiac function) was higher in patients treated with deflazacort over the long term. Preservation of cardiac function was demonstrated by a mean difference in ejection fraction of about 7%, favoring study groups taking deflazacort over control groups.[A179458]

Effects on spinal alignment

Children treated with deflazacort also significantly lowered the rate and severity of scoliosis and eliminated the need for scoliosis surgery after long-term treatment.[A179455][A179458]