ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL BODY COMPOSITION WITH DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY IN DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY: CORRELATION OF REGIONAL LEAN MASS AND QUANTITATIVE STRENGTH

The purpose of this study was to assess regional body composition and its correlation with regional strength in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) subjects and able-bodied controls. Regional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements and isometric strength were obtained for 23 DMD subjects and 23 control subjects. DMD subjects showed a decreased regional lean mass (P < 0.001). The correlation between regional strength and regional lean mass was stronger for controls than for DMD subjects. DMD subjects had decreased regional lean mass, increased regional fat mass, and decreased strength.