A Case of Refractory Heart Failure in Becker Muscular Dystrophy Improved With Corticosteroid Therapy.

A Case of Refractory Heart Failure in Becker Muscular Dystrophy Improved With Corticosteroid Therapy. Int Heart J. 2016 Aug 16; Authors: Nakamura M, Sunagawa O, Hokama R, Tsuchiya H, Miyara T, Taba Y, Touma T Abstract The patient was a 26 year-old man who was referred to our hospital in June 2011 because of severe heart failure. At age 24 years, he was found to have Becker muscular dystrophy. He received enalapril for cardiac dysfunction; however, he had worsening heart failure and was thus referred to our hospital. Echocardiography showed enlargement of the left ventricle, with a diastolic dimension of 77 mm and ejection fraction of 19%. His condition improved temporarily after an infusion of dobutamine and milrinone. He was then administered amiodarone for ventricular tachycardia; however, he subsequently developed hemoptysis. Amiodarone was discontinued and corticosteroid pulse therapy was administered followed by oral prednisolone (PSL). His creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level and cardiomegaly improved after the corticosteroid therapy. The PSL dose was reduced gradually, bisoprolol was introduced, and the catecholamine infusion was tapered. A cardiac resynchronization device was implanted; however, the patient's condition gradually worsened, which necessitated dobutamine infusion for heart failure. We readministered 30 mg PSL, which decreased the CPK level and improved the cardiomegaly. The dobutamine infusion was discontinued, ...
Source: International Heart Journal - Category: Cardiology Tags: Int Heart J Source Type: research