SMA Europe’s inaugural gathering to discuss medical emergencies
1st International Clinical Care Symposium on SMA is set for Aug. 29-30
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 event will bring together scientist experts in SMA, patient advocates, and industry representatives, along with physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and occupational and speech therapists. The symposium will take place Aug. 29-30 at the Quark Hotel in Milan. Those willing to take part may register for in-person or online participation.
Abstracts for posters and short talks covering emergency-related topics in SMA, including basic research, acute complications, and strategies for preventing and treating symptoms, may be submitted by May 31.
Addressing medical emergencies in SMA
“This symposium is important because it addresses the critical gap in understanding and managing life-threatening medical emergencies specific to SMA, bringing together international multidisciplinary experts to develop better prevention strategies and emergency response protocols for this patient population,” Stefania Corti, MD, PhD, professor and principal investigator at the University of Milan, said in a press release shared with SMA News Today. Corti and Valeria Sansone, MD, PhD, the clinical and scientific director at the NeMO Clinical Center Milan and a professor at the University of Milan, will co-chair the medical panel overseeing the event.
SMA is chiefly caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene that result in little to no SMN protein and the progressive loss of motor neurons, the nerve cells that control voluntary movements. The disease’s symptoms mainly affect motor function, but people with it may also have problems speaking, swallowing, breathing, and with nutrition.
Participants will discuss the medical and supportive care needs of patients and their caregivers, which often extend beyond medications and other treatments and require a multidisciplinary approach.
Main sessions will address respiratory problems, bulbar symptoms, which affect speech and swallowing, metabolic conditions, and how medical emergencies are managed in different countries. It will also include a workshop to demonstrate how to handle real-life cases. The symposium will be accredited for continuing medical education for healthcare professionals.
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