Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVES: SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group specialised register (searched August 2003), MEDLINE (January 1966 to August 2003) and EMBASE (January 1980 to August 2003) for any references to facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Abstracts from the major neurological meetings and trial bibliographies were also searched for further references to trials. Experts were contacted for information regarding unpublished trials or trials in progress. SELECTION CRITERIA: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All identified trials were independently assessed by both reviewers to ensure that they fulfilled the selection criteria and were then rated for their quality. Trial data were extracted and entered by one reviewer and checked by the other. If appropriate data existed a weighted treatment effect was to be calculated across trials using the Cochrane statistical package, Review Manager. The results were to have been expressed as relative risks and 95% confidence intervals and risk differences and 95% confidence intervals for dichotomous outcomes, and weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for continuous outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: Two published high quality randomised controlled trials fulfilled the selection criteria. One compared creatine supplementation with placebo and the other compared high and low-dose albuterol with placebo. A further unpublished randomised controlled trial of albuterol in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy was identified. The creatine trial showed a non-significant difference in favour of creatine. The albuterol trial showed no significant difference in muscle strength at one year but some secondary measures such as lean body mass and handgrip strength did improve. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS:
|
Authors | M R Rose, R Tawil |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 2
Pg. CD002276
( 2004)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 15106171
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)
|
Chemical References |
- Adrenergic beta-Agonists
- Creatine
- Albuterol
|
Topics |
- Adrenergic beta-Agonists
(therapeutic use)
- Albuterol
(therapeutic use)
- Creatine
(therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral
(drug therapy)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
|