Ineffective Treatment of Muscular Dystrophy with an Anabolic Steroid and Other Measures

Abstract

THROUGHOUT the years many agents have been tested for their therapeutic benefit in muscular dystrophy, a relentlessly progressive disease. Eventually, all have been found to be ineffective after careful evaluation, including a variety of anabolic hormones.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8} More recently Dowben⁹ has presented preliminary evidence that patients with muscular dystrophy showed significant "improvement" when treated by a program consisting of the anabolic steroid, 1-methyl-Δ¹ androstenolone acetate,ǁ digitoxin and exercise.The purpose of this report is to re-evaluate such a therapeutic program in muscular dystrophy when the drugs are used singly, in combination and with or without exercise. Objective serial measurements were made . . .