News

SMA Europe’s inaugural gathering to discuss medical emergencies

SMA Europe will host its 1st International Clinical Care Symposium on SMA and focus on the biological causes of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and how to prevent and manage the symptoms that may lead to life-threatening emergencies. Titled, “Medical Emergencies in SMA: pathophysiology, prevention, and response,” the…

High-carbohydrate diet may help normalize SMA metabolism

A study found that people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have metabolic alterations due to impairments in how their bodies use fatty acids for energy. The results suggested a carbohydrate-rich diet may help normalize metabolism in SMA patients. The study, “Alterations of Fat and Ketone Body Metabolism…

Zolgensma gene therapy liver damage usually resolves in months

Liver damage may occur as a side effect of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi), but it usually resolves within a few months of treatment, a study showed. The researchers also found that simultaneous treatment with Zolgensma and Spinraza (nusinersen) does not seem to…

HapSMA test can help ID genetic changes affecting SMA: Study

Testing patient DNA with advanced methods like HapSMA — which can “[analyze] … SMN and its surrounding genes” — can reveal otherwise undetectable genetic changes, such as gene conversion, that affect how severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is, according to a study by researchers in the Netherlands. These novel…