Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Latest News

Children with SMA are commonly affected by low bone mineral density | image credit: PT - stock.adobe.com
Low Bone Mineral Density Risk Increases With Age in SMA

November 13th 2024

Investigators used 3-dimensional quantitative computed tomography to more accurately assess patients’ bone mineral density.

Patients with SMA and their caregivers stand to benefit from shared decision-making processes | image credit: Intelligent Horizons - stock.adobe.com
Shared Decision-Making Is Essential Prior to SMA-Enhancing Treatments

November 8th 2024

SMA type is a strong predictor of some oral functioning in affected patients | image credit: RTimages - stock.adobe.com
Oral Function Impairment Varies Across Adult Patients With SMA

October 28th 2024

SMA spinal muscular atrophy | Image Credit: © Rochu_2008 - stock.adobe.com
Protein Level Correlates With Pediatric SMA Severity, Treatment Response

October 17th 2024

SMA puzzle pieces | image credit: Dzmitry - stock.adobe.com
Muscle-Directed Therapy Apitegromab Meets Primary End Point in Phase 3 SAPPHIRE Trial of SMA

October 17th 2024

More News

Image of pregnant woman holding ultrasound photos
January 27th 2022

Multidisciplinary Care Emphasized for Pregnant Women With SMA

Jaime Rosenberg
According to researchers, this case of a patient with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) from Indonesia was the first to use a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that involved obstetric, neurology, pediatric, and anesthesiology departments at a hospital.
FDA Gives Priority Review to Risdiplam in SMA for Infants Younger Than 2 Months
January 25th 2022

FDA Gives Priority Review to Risdiplam in SMA for Infants Younger Than 2 Months

AJMC Staff
Risdiplam is approved for children older than 2 months with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA); an expanded approval would include the youngest infants before they show symptoms.
gene graphic
January 22nd 2022

Study: NGS May Be a Superior Method of Detecting SMN1 Gene Copy Number

Jaime Rosenberg
Among the 3 methods used across 478 samples included in the study, next-generation sequencing provided the most favorable results.
dna graphic
January 21st 2022

Estonia-Based Study Assesses Prevalence, Characteristics of SMA Diagnoses

Jaime Rosenberg
Over the 24-year period, there were 57 spinal muscular atrophy diagnoses in 53 families, and a disease birth prevalence of 1 per 8286 births in Estonia.
Image of scientist testing treatments in the lab
January 15th 2022

Non-SMN Approaches Offer Alternative, Supportive Strategies for SMA Treatment

Jaime Rosenberg
Outside of survival motor neuron (SMN) treatment, there are several alternatives used in cases where SMN approaches are not appropriate for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Image of stethoscope and question mark
January 11th 2022

Nusinersen Likely to Improve QOL for Patients With SMA

Jaime Rosenberg
Across most questionnaire domains, patients reported improvements to their quality of life (QOL) while receiving treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with nusinersen.
Research Highlights Significantly Higher Risk of Mortality Among Patients With SMA Prior to Nusinersen Approval
January 7th 2022

Research Highlights Significantly Higher Risk of Mortality Among Patients With SMA Prior to Nusinersen Approval

Jaime Rosenberg
Based on the data from over 5000 patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and 50,000 age-matched controls, patients with SMA had a nearly 1.8-fold higher mortality rate.
Lesser Studied Nonrespiratory Complications in Nusinersen-Treated SMA1 May Affect Outcomes
January 5th 2022

Lesser Studied Nonrespiratory Complications in Nusinersen-Treated SMA1 May Affect Outcomes

Rose McNulty
The respiratory complications of spinal muscular atrophy are well-researched, but a new study provides insight into nonrespiratory complications that may be just as crucial.
doctor coat
December 23rd 2021

Case Series Gives Insight Into Surgical Intervention for SMA Patients with Severe Scoliosis

Rose McNulty
Patients with spinal muscular atrophy often present with severe scoliosis but face an elevated risk of complications from corrective surgery.
Top 5 Most-Read Spinal Muscular Atrophy Stories of 2021
December 22nd 2021

Top 5 Most-Read Spinal Muscular Atrophy Stories of 2021

Skylar Jeremias
The top 5 most-read spinal muscular atrophy stories of 2021 on AJMC.com covered a variety of topics concerning the disease, including cost differences, the potential for combination therapies, and identifying biomarkers for treatment.
New Imaging Approach May Assess Disease Burden in Patients With SMA
December 18th 2021

New Imaging Approach May Assess Disease Burden in Patients With SMA

Jaime Rosenberg
If further studies confirm a benefit by using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT), the technology can help forge a path toward a noninvasive, bedside, nonionizing approach to early visualization of disease as well as evaluation of disease burden and disease progression in patients.
xray of spine
December 11th 2021

Scoliosis Surgery for Pediatric SMA1 Comes With Serious Complications, Study Says

Rose McNulty
A case series of corrective surgeries in children with severe scoliosis due to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 showed a positive success rate, but with significant postoperative complications.
pregnant woman
December 2nd 2021

Pilot Program Underscores Importance of Newborn Screening to Identify, Treat SMA

Rose McNulty
Testing for spinal muscular atrophy in an Australian newborn screening program identified patients across socioeconomic and cultural demographics, mitigating inequity and providing patients with access to multidisciplinary treatment.
pediatric patient in hospital bed
November 26th 2021

Study Assesses Age-Related Sensory Neuropathy in SMA

Rose McNulty
Sensory nerve action potential amplitudes decreased as patients aged in a cohort of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 patients compared with a healthy, age-matched control group.
using a calculator
November 22nd 2021

More Research Needed on SMA-Associated Costs, Resource Use

Gianna Melillo
Authors of a systematic literature review concluded more research is needed to better understand the financial burden of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Respiratory, Upper Limb Function Declines After Loss of Ambulation in SMA Type 3
November 18th 2021

Respiratory, Upper Limb Function Declines After Loss of Ambulation in SMA Type 3

Rose McNulty
A recent review provides insight into the clinical progression of treatment-naive patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 3 who have lost ambulation.
blue cross
November 13th 2021

Real-world Data Find Nusinersen Safe and Effective in Patients With SMA1

Rose McNulty
A retrospective observational cohort study of patients ranging in age from infants to adults provides real-world evidence that nusinersen is safe and effective for those with SMA1.
red cross graphic
November 11th 2021

Analysis of Nusinersen Shows Favorable Safety Profile in Adults With SMA

Rose McNulty
Data on nusinersen’s safety profile in adult patients are more limited than in infant and adolescent patients, but a recent study showed positive results based on cerebrospinal fluid and blood sample parameters.
Adult supporting child
November 6th 2021

Home Support Outweighs Nusinersen Delays in Patients With SMA During COVID-19 Lockdown

Rose McNulty
A small, single-center study determined that adequate support at home affected outcomes in motor ability more so than the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.
Calendar with circled date
November 5th 2021

Nonadherence to Nusinersen Treatment Increases Health Care Utilization, Costs in SMA

Rose McNulty
Results of a retrospective claims database analysis suggest that adherence to scheduled intrathecal nusinersen injections may lead to improvements in comorbidities, health care utilization, and costs for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) types 1, 2, and 3.
Biomarkers for Adult SMA Patients Treated With Nusinersen Remain Elusive
October 30th 2021

Biomarkers for Adult SMA Patients Treated With Nusinersen Remain Elusive

Rose McNulty
As spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatments advance, new biomarkers that correlate with clinical outcomes are needed to gauge treatment response.
Study Evaluates Potential Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in SMA Treatment
October 30th 2021

Study Evaluates Potential Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in SMA Treatment

Rose McNulty
The single-center study explored cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament and protein levels in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) undergoing treatment with nusinersen in an effort to identify useful biomarkers as treatment options expand.
Motor neurons
October 23rd 2021

Motor Unit Number Estimation Provides Insight Into Nusinersen Effects in SMA

Rose McNulty
The MScanFit method assessed changes in motor unit configuration in adult patients undergoing treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
More SMA Biomarkers Are Needed to Gauge Disease Progression, Therapy Response
October 21st 2021

More SMA Biomarkers Are Needed to Gauge Disease Progression, Therapy Response

Rose McNulty
A review of current molecular and electrophysiological biomarkers in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) concluded that more exploration is necessary to find noninvasive, yet accurate, measures of disease progression and therapy response.
Brain waves
October 16th 2021

New Study Clarifies Cognitive Function in Adults With SMA vs Healthy Adults

Rose McNulty
A recent study compared intelligence quotient test scores between adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and healthy adults.
Intrathecal catheter
October 14th 2021

Subcutaneous Intrathecal Catheter Allows for Effective Administration of Nusinersen in SMA

Rose McNulty
A novel indwelling subcutaneous intrathecal catheter circumvented the complex spine anatomy of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a challenge when giving nusinersen via intrathecal injection.
Stuffed animal and stethoscope
October 10th 2021

Despite Progress in SMA Identification and Treatment, More Work Remains

Rose McNulty
A review of advances in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) identification and treatment highlights areas where there is room for improvement.
Blood sample in centerfuge
October 8th 2021

Serum Neurofilament Light Chain May Be a Viable Biomarker in SMA

Rose McNulty
Biomarkers for spinal muscular atrophy are needed to further analyze treatment efficacy, and a recent study points to serum neurofilament light chain levels as a possible option.
DNA section
October 3rd 2021

Modern Gene Therapies Show Promise in Motor Neuron Disorders

Rose McNulty
A review of current research and drug development in motor neuron disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy shows progress in the identification of treatment pathways and therapies.
Child and parent at doctor's office
October 1st 2021

Assessing Upper-Limb Function in Neuromuscular Diseases: Current Tools and Needs

Rose McNulty
A review of instruments used to assess upper-limb function in patients with neuromuscular diseases found that more tools are needed to address specific diseases.
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