Muscle histology vs MRI in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity1555 @entity121
OBJECTIVE: There are currently no effective treatments to halt the muscle breakdown in @entity1555 ( @entity1555 ), although genetic-based clinical trials are being piloted. Most of these trials have as an endpoint the restoration of dystrophin in muscle fibers, hence requiring sufficiently well-preserved muscle of recruited @entity1 . The choice of the muscles to be studied and the role of noninvasive methods to assess muscle preservation therefore require further evaluation. METHODS: We studied the degree of @entity121 in the lower leg muscles of 34 @entity1 with @entity1555 >8 years, using muscle MRI. In a subgroup of 15 @entity1 we correlated the muscle MRI findings with the histology of open extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle biopsies. Muscle MRI involvement was assigned using a scale 0-4 (normal-severe). RESULTS: In all @entity1 we documented a gradient of involvement of the lower leg muscles: the posterior compartment (gastrocnemius > soleus) was most severely affected; the anterior compartment (tibialis anterior/posterior, popliteus, extensor digitorum longus) least affected. Muscle MRI showed EDB involvement that correlated with the @entity1 's age (p = 0.055). We show a correlation between the MRI and EDB histopathologic changes, with MRI 3-4 grades associated with a more severe fibro-adipose tissue replacement. The EDB was sufficiently preserved for bulk and signal intensity in 18/22 wheelchair users aged 10-16.6 years. CONCLUSION: This study provides a detailed correlation between muscle histology and MRI changes in @entity1555 and demonstrates the value of this imaging technique as a reliable tool for the selection of muscles in @entity1 recruited into clinical trials.
