News

A girl with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) undergoing surgery to correct scoliosis, an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, experienced a severe drop in blood pressure and oxygen levels due to the position of the surgical table, according to a case study. The tilt of the table…

Levels of certain molecules in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord — may help researchers distinguish between different types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a study suggests. The study, “Metabolomics of cerebrospinal fluid reveals candidate diagnostic biomarkers to…

An early spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) diagnosis with the help of a newborn screening program, and treatment with disease-modifying therapies before symptom onset, may prevent the development of SMA symptoms, according to a new study in Italy. The study found that children born without symptoms who started treatment…

It is important to reach out to other healthcare professionals if you are working with a patient who has a long-lasting complaint you are not able to fully solve. Michael, a patient I work with who has spinal muscular atrophy, has continued to experience increased tailbone pain since…

More high-quality studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of fatigue in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and to identify which, if any, SMA therapies or interventions might be able to truly ease the common but often troublesome symptom. That’s according to a new review study that found…

An 8-month-old girl with a clinical and genetic diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 saw her condition improve after starting treatment with Evrysdi (risdiplam), according to a recent case reported in China. Specifically, the treatment improved the girl’s muscle tone and head control as…

A novel monitoring tool called MScanFit may be a reliable way to assess the health of nerve and muscle cells in people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a new study found. “This study demonstrated that MScanFit is feasible for the assessment of SMA patients,” the scientists wrote, noting…

A harness system designed for children with movement difficulties, the Portable Mobility Aid for Children (PUMA) improved or stabilized motor function among young patients treated for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a small study. More frequent at-home use of the system, whose harness supports a child’s…

Tiny carriers of cellular cargo called extracellular vesicles (EVs) — isolated from stem cells found in fat tissue — improved motor performance and slowed motor nerve cell degeneration in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to recent research. Researchers believe these so-called ASC-EVs may offer…

The troponin T (TNT) protein — a marker of heart muscle damage — was elevated in the bloodstream of more than half of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients, especially in younger children with more severe disease, a recent analysis shows. Another heart-specific form of troponin called troponin I…