SMA early detection may assist treatmentRSS Feed

New research may assist doctors in detecting spinal injury in unborn infants.

Screening methods that enable doctors to spot signs of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) early on could allow parents to treat symptoms before they become irreversible.

A cure is not yet available for the condition, but scientists at Ohio State University believe that the screening could help to provide a definitive diagnosis.

Commenting on the American Journal of Medical Genetics study findings, lead author Thomas Prior said: "Given the devastating nature of SMA, our two-tiered study is designed to address the clinical applicability of testing newborns and carrier screening across the population.

"A newborn screening program for SMA not only allows parents to enter their children into clinical trials earlier, but would enable patients to obtain proactive treatment."

Meanwhile, research conducted in March by scientists at the Genzyme Corporation suggested that gene therapy could be one strategy for treating SMA.

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