{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T05:06:30Z","timestamp":1787893590430,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,1]],"date-time":"2022-09-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1661990400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe neuromuscular disorder which leads to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Most patients die from cardiac or respiratory failure. Gene transfer therapy offers a promising approach to treating this disorder.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Given the genetic disease burden, family size, and the high consanguinity rates in the Middle East, our objective is to address current practices and challenges of DMD patient care within two countries in this region, namely the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and to outline readiness for gene therapy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>An expert panel meeting was held to discuss the DMD patient journey, disease awareness, current management of DMD, challenges faced and recommendations for improvement. Opportunities and challenges for gene therapy in both countries were also deliberated. A pre-meeting survey was conducted, and the results were used to guide the discussion during the meeting.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>DMD awareness is poor resulting in a delay in referral and diagnosis of patients. Awareness and education initiatives, along with an interconnected referral system could improve early diagnosis. Genetic testing is available in both countries although coverage varies. Corticosteroid therapy is the standard of care however there is often a delay in treatment initiation. Patients with DMD should be diagnosed and managed by a multi-disciplinary team in centers of excellence for neuromuscular disorders. Key success factors to support the introduction of gene therapy include education and training, timely and accessible genetic testing and resolution of reimbursement and cost issues.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>There are many challenges facing the management of DMD patients in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait and most likely other countries within the Middle East. Successful introduction of gene therapy to treat DMD will require careful planning, education, capacity building and prioritization of core initiatives.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3233\/jnd-221528","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,14]],"date-time":"2022-10-14T11:34:15Z","timestamp":1665747255000},"page":"787-801","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Unlocking the Opportunities in Countries in the Middle East and Beyond"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Haitham","family":"Elbashir","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurosciences Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children\u2019s Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Waseem","family":"Fathalla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vivek","family":"Mundada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medcare Women and Children Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mehtab","family":"Iqbal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Asmaa A","family":"Al Tawari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Al Sabah Hospital, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saleel","family":"Chandratre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laila","family":"Bastaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kuwait Medical Genetic Centre, Kuwait"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ingy","family":"Romany","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pfizer Gulf FZ LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Omar","family":"Ismayl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ahmad","family":"Abou Tayoun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Genomic Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children\u2019s Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41572-021-00248-3"},{"key":"ref002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13023-020-01430-8"},{"key":"ref003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0167-5273(90)90082-G"},{"key":"ref004","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2217\/nmt-2019-0002"},{"key":"ref005","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1474-4422(18)30024-3"},{"key":"ref006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3233\/JND-210678"},{"key":"ref007","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13023-017-0631-3"},{"key":"ref008","unstructured":"Muscular Dystrophy Association. 2022. Available from https:\/\/www.mda.org\/disease\/duchenne-musculardystrophy. Accessed 15 March 2022."},{"key":"ref009","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ppul.25055"},{"key":"ref010","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2020.01387"},{"key":"ref011","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2021.629549"},{"key":"ref012","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13073-021-01003-9"},{"key":"ref013","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13073-020-00821-7"},{"key":"ref014","unstructured":"World Bank. Development Indicators, Population. https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=AE;2022. Accessed 12 July 2022."},{"key":"ref015","unstructured":"World Bank. Development Indicators, Birth rate, crude (per 1000 people). https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SP.DYN.CBRT.IN?locations=AE;2022. Accessed 12 July 2022."},{"key":"ref016","unstructured":"World Bank. Development Indicators, Population. https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=KW;2022. Accessed 12 July 2022."},{"key":"ref017","unstructured":"World Bank. Development Indicators. Birth rate, crude (per 1000 people). https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SP.DYN.CBRT.IN?locations=KW;2022. Accessed 12 July 2022."},{"key":"ref018","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2009.02.007"},{"key":"ref019","unstructured":"Global Media Insight. UAE Population 2022. Available from https:\/\/www.globalmediainsight.com\/blog\/uaepopulation-statistics\/#vs. Accessed 25 May 2022."},{"key":"ref020","unstructured":"World Population Review. Kuwait Population 2022. Available from https:\/\/worldpopulationreview.com\/countries\/kuwait-population. Accessed 25 May 2022."},{"key":"ref021","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/archdischild-2014-306366"},{"key":"ref022","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1373\/clinchem.2013.206466"},{"key":"ref023","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1373\/clinchem.2017.280685"},{"key":"ref024","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14737159.2021.1887731"},{"key":"ref025","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/genes13020257"},{"key":"ref026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-82725-z"},{"key":"ref027","unstructured":"Treat-NMD. Gene therapy. Available from https:\/\/treat-nmd.org\/resources-support\/research-overview\/dmd-research-overview\/gene-therapy\/. Accessed 28 April 2022."}],"container-title":["Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.3233\/JND-221528","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.3233\/JND-221528","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.3233\/JND-221528","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T23:50:03Z","timestamp":1777506603000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.3233\/JND-221528"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,1]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.3233\/JND-221528"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3233\/jnd-221528","relation":{},"ISSN":["2214-3599","2214-3602"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2214-3599","type":"print"},{"value":"2214-3602","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,1]]}}}