Evaluating RANKL and OPG levels in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Summary RANKL-OPG should be explored in DMD patients to potentially provide targeted therapy. We quantified RANKL and OPG levels in DMD patients compared with controls. RANKL, OPG, and RANKL:OPG significantly declined with age in DMD patients suggesting some bone turnover markers are difficult to assess or use as therapeutic indicators. Introduction Osteoporosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is multi-factorial in nature with high prevalence of fractures. RANKL-OPG should be explored to potentially provide targeted therapy for these patients. We quantified RANKL, OPG, and RANKL:OPG levels in DMD patients compared with controls and analyzed the influence of age, glucocorticoid use, ambulatory status, bone density, and fracture history. Methods DMD patients were enrolled at CHLA. Controls were recruited from general pediatric clinic and in collaboration with samples from a previously completed study. Free soluble RANKL and OPG levels were quantified using a sandwich ELISA. Results Fifty DMD patients and 50 controls were enrolled. DMD patients had a significant decline in RANKL, OPG, and RANKL:OPG with age ( p =