Suspicion of a teenager with Duchenne disease in the pediatrics department of Sainte Thérèse De Hinche Hospital

Berley Alphonse; Michelande Elien; Edisond Florial; Andorie Samanda Labonte; Chrismy Augustin; Phélès Dagerus; Berley Alphonse; Michelande Elien; Edisond Florial; Andorie Samanda Labonte; Chrismy Augustin; Phélès Dagerus

ISSN: 2641-2950

Journal of Neurology, Neurological Science and Disorders

Case Report Open Access Peer-Reviewed

Suspicion of a teenager with Duchenne disease in the pediatrics department of Sainte Thérèse De Hinche Hospital

Berley Alphonse^1*, Michelande Elien¹, Edisond Florial², Andorie Samanda Labonte³, Chrismy Augustin² and Phélès Dagerus⁴

Author and article information

¹Sainte Thérèse de Hinche Hospital, Notre Dame University, Haiti
²University Notre Dame d’Haiti, Haiti
³University LUMIÈRE, Haiti
⁴Escuela Latino Americana de Medicina CUBA

*Corresponding author: Dr. Berley Alphonse, Sainte Thérèse de Hinche Hospital, Notre Dame University, Haiti, E-mail: berleyalphonse4@gmail.com

doi : 10.17352/jnnsd.000055

Received: 23 June, 2023 | Accepted: 04 July, 2023 | Published: 05 July, 2023

Keywords: Gower sign; Pseudo calf hypertrophy; Paresis; Creatinine kinase (CK-MB); Aldolase

Cite this as

Alphonse B, Elien M, Florial E, Labonte AS, Augustin C, et al.(2023) Suspicion of a teenager with Duchenne disease in the pediatrics department of Sainte Thérèse De Hinche Hospital. J Neurol Neurol Sci Disord 9(1): 041-044. DOI: 10.17352/jnnsd.000055

Copyright

© 2023 Alphonse B, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Abstract

Duchenne disease is caused by a deletion of the gene coding for dystrophin. The absence of this protein is responsible for the myonecrosis observed during the evolution of the pathology. It is X-linked recessive which explains its occurrence, especially in boys. The manifestation of the disease begins in 3 years - 5 years, and the life expectancy is 20 years - 30 years.

In the classic clinic, we have gait disorders, kyphoscoliosis, pseudo hypertrophy of the calves, and a positive Gower’s sign. Cardiorespiratory impairment is often incriminated as the cause of death in these patients. Management is based on physiotherapy and corticosteroid therapy. In the event of a cardio-respiratory manifestation, the use of positive pressure ventilation, and anti-hypertensives such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers may be necessary.

We will discuss the 10 years old patients who present with the classic symptoms of Duchenne disease and how we managed it in a low-income country.

Main article text

Introduction

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease caused by a “frameshift” deletion or a nonsense mutation in the DMD1 gene found on the X chromosome coding for dystrophin [1-8].

From an epidemiological point of view, this affects 1/3500 - 5000 newborns with a male predominance [9-11].

The Duchenne disease is a rare disease worldwide. It may go unnoticed by many clinicians. Thus, we will present the case of this 10-year-old boy with DMD. Hence, the objective is to discuss the method of diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and its management.

Presentation

Ten-year-old patient, seen under referral from the Thomonde Health Center for mental retardation and functional limitation in walking. He was assessed by the pediatric team of the Sainte Thérèse de Hinche Hospital (HSTH)3 with the following reasons for consultation: language delay, functional limitation in walking, difficulty in standing up, the notion of repeated falls, abdominal pain, deformation of the spine and lower limbs. He had some learning difficulties.

The symptomatology would have started with the appearance of a language delay, with the notion of repeated falls, difficulty in standing up and walking around, and non-specific abdominal pain, neither tenesmus nor strains. As a history, he was hospitalized and treated for a neonatal infection and a seizure at the age of 2 years.

On physical examination, the patient had a weight of 24 kg and presented a deviation of the spine and an inequality of the left lower limbs: 64 cm and right: 65 cm. He couldn’t take support on his heel. He presented with lower limb paresis and Genu valgum. Gower’s sign was positive with pseudo-calf hypertrophy.

Cranial nerve assessment was unremarkable and muscle tone was normal.

The patient underwent a radiological evaluation and biological investigations. A spine x-ray revealed lumbar scoliosis. The serological analysis itself revealed an increase in the CK-MB and Aldolase markers. Electromyography, biopsy, and genetic analysis could not be performed. The counseling was carried out with the patient’s mother and then he was referred to physiotherapy after an initiation to corticosteroid therapy. The patient was assessed several times during the follow-ups, and he has some degree of clinical improvement. However, there is worsening muscle weakness in the lower limbs. As the goal of corticosteroid therapy is to delay complications, we decided to continue with the same treatment as we do not have other alternatives.

Discussion

Dystrophin is the largest coding protein in the human genome [12]. It allows the anchoring and support of muscle fibers via their binding between the intracellular cytoskeleton (actin) and transmembrane alpha and β-dystroglycan proteins as well as their connection with the extracellular matrix [13-15].

The absence of dystrophin would cause progressive damage to myofibers with each muscle contraction [16]. This would explain the appearance of the clinical signs of the disease only from the age of 5 years and the variation of the clinical picture of the disease [17]. The repair of damaged muscle tissue will lead to the formation of fibrosis which can be observed on biopsy [18].

At first, the child presents with gait disturbances, delayed psychomotor development, and poor head control.

The study carried out by Kara Mirski, et al. on 179 boys diagnosed with Duchenne’s disease that the delay in walking could help in the early diagnosis of the disease associated with cognitive impairment.

With the evolution of the disease, there will be neuromuscular and bone manifestations as master symptoms of muscle weakness, pseudo hypertrophy of the calves, and deformation of the spine and other cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, neurological, and psychiatric [19].

In our case, the patient presented with a delay in psychomotor development, difficulty in walking, repeated falls, deviation of the spine, a positive Gower’s sign, inequality and paresis of the lower limbs, and pseudo hypertrophy of the calves.

We could not make a definitive diagnosis because we have some laboratory issues such as biopsy, electromyography, and genetic analysis. The suspicion was high because of the clinical presentation and the plasma elevation of CK-MB and Aldolase caused by the increased permeability of the damaged sarcomeres, due to muscle contractions thus causing their release into the circulation.

The standard management of DMD consists of physiotherapy and corticosteroid therapy which could delay the progression of the disease [5,20].

As perspectives, scientists are working on other therapeutic modalities such as exon skipping, gene therapy and myostatin inhibitors. In our context the management was focused on physiotherapy, corticosteroid therapy and strict monitoring of side effects of corticosteroids. We encourage the development of partnerships in the field of pediatric neurology in order to find a solution to this disease.

Conclusion

Duchenne disease is a rare genetic disease whose management is complex and aims above all to delay the progression of the pathology. We recommend all physicians who receive a boy with difficulty walking to measure CK-MB in order to detect the disease early.