4. Treatment of SMA (Sienna Fedoruk)
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic condition that causes muscle weakness as time progresses. There are five known sub types all ranging in severity and onset age in which there is no cure but medication and therapy could manage symptoms. This article gives insight on a new UK screening test to see if babies have SMA by using a heel-prick blood test. SMA is caused through a genetic mutation leading to progressive muscle weakness including, neuron survival, breathing, and swallowing in which a life expectancy can be only two years. However, if detected early, gene therapy could give these families and children a long life with no visible effects of the disease.
Grayce Pearson was diagnosed too late and now lives with SMA type 2 as she manages her symptoms through medication. Due to her late diagnosis treatment options are limited which will most likely lead to motor loss. The importance of this heel-prick test could save families from grieving a short lived life of a child and be able to identify and manage the disease before symptoms arise.
https://www.bbc.com/news/
Other: https://my.clevelandclinic.
April 23
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