Cardiac MRI in Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy.

Background and objectives: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is the noninvasive technique of choice for early detection of cardiac involvement in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD, respectively), but is seldom used in routine clinical practice in the Indian context. We sought to determine the prevalence of CMRI abnormalities in patients with DMD and BMD and to compare the CMRI parameters with the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics.

Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted on patients genetically diagnosed with DMD and BMD who could complete CMRI between March 2020 and March 2022. Abnormal CMRI was the presence of any late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) that signifies myocardial fibrosis (LGE positivity), regional wall motion abnormality, or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <55%).

Results: A total of 46 patients were included: 38 patients with DMD and eight with BMD. Cardiac abnormality was seen in 23 (50%) patients. LGE was more common than impaired LVEF in DMD (16, 42.1%), while impaired LVEF was more common in BMD (5, 62.5%). LGE was most frequently found in lateral wall (18/19) followed by inferior (6/19), septal (5/19), anterior (2/19), and apex (1/19). Among the various clinicodemographic parameters, only age ( r = 0.495, P = 0.002) and disease duration ( r = 0.407, P = 0.011) were found to significantly correlate with LGE in patients with DMD. No association was found between the various CMRI parameters and the genotype.

Conclusions: The current study highlights the differences in myocardial fibrosis and LV dysfunction between DMD and BMD, along with other CMRI parameters. Notably, a genotype-CMRI correlation was not found in the current cohort, which needs to be further explored.