Abstract
Although the etiology of progressive muscular dystrophy (PMD) is uknown, recently clinical improvement has been reported in patients with PMD treated by calcium antagonists, such as diltiazem, nicardipine and verapamil. The objective of this study was to evalute the effectiveness of 40-60 mg of oral nicardipine given daily to 20 men with PMD for 8 months to 2(2/3) years. Its effectiveness was determind by ADL, CPK and grip strength test. Grip strength was measured by a sensitive digital ergometer. The following results were obtained.
1) No significant changes occurred in ADL and CPK. 2) In only 2 boys (9 and 11 years old) grip strength increased significantly after nica-rdipine treatment.
3) Mild side effects were occasionally observed, but transient. These results sugges-ted that nicardipine might have beneficial effects in only younger boys with PMD.
