G.P.176

We have been monitoring the respiratory function in 95 DMD patients (aged between 6 and 24 years) who were evaluated once or twice a year in relation to age and clinical conditions, making a total of 429 evaluations. During every evaluation, forced vital capacity, nocturnal oxygen saturation and the abdominal percentage contribution to tidal volume (an index of the action of the diaphragm) were respectively measured with spirometry, pulse oximetry and opto-electronic plethysmography. 46 patients underwent therapy with steroid while the remaining 49 never assumed steroid. No differences (p = 0.122) were found in forced vital capacity, nocturnal saturation and the action of the diaphragm between the 231 evaluations of the steroid group and the 198 evaluations of the sham group. Steroid therapy seems not to have any effects on the respiratory function decline in DMD patients.