Diagnosed with sickle cell disease as a 6-month-old, Tristan Lee has faced a lot of challenges over his 37 years of life. But from a young age, he also learned how to turn those trials into triumphs. At age 9, a stroke due to his disease left him paralyzed…
Rare Disease Day at NIH, organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and taking place on March 1, will feature panel discussions, patient stories, research updates, TED-style talks, and a presentation by a Nobel laureate recently recognized for her work on a gene editing tool. The free, virtual…
In focus groups, transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis patients and families reported challenges and concerns related to the odyssey of getting a diagnosis, the effect of symptoms on quality of life, and the familial impact of the rare inherited disease. The study, which included people with…
People with rare disorders have a worse healthcare experience than those affected by chronic diseases, according to the results of an international survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. Indeed, rare disease patients overall give their healthcare experience a medium-low rating, of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5,…
The levels of blood GDF-15 could detect the development and progression of heart disease in people with hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis, which includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy, a new study suggests. The study, “Plasma growth differentiation factor 15: a novel tool to detect early changes of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis,”…
Scores of virtual events are afoot around the world to mark Rare Disease Day 2021 on Feb. 28. The activities are focused on heightening awareness about rare diseases and the hundreds of millions of individuals they are thought to affect. Patients, caregivers, and advocates worldwide will sport denim ribbons…
Investigating how plasma from people with transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis affects heart cells from rats may help researchers predict future heart-related health events and deaths in these patients, a study suggests. The findings were published in Clinical Research in Cardiology, in the study “Impaired in vitro growth response…
While progress was made last year on newborn screening and other policy issues critical to rare disease patients, a “State Report Card” argues that many concerns — notably out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines and access to affordable comprehensive care — still need attention. Those were the findings of the…
People with hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis, which includes familial amyloid polyneuropathy, experience multiple medical issues prior to diagnosis, with potential ATTRv markers commonly appearing in the year before, according to a recent study. A better understanding of patient experiences may help speed its recognition and diagnosis. The study, “…
The two COVID-19 vaccines that recently received emergency approval from the U.S. and other worldwide regulatory agencies are expected to pose little risk to the rare disease community, including to patients with compromised immune systems or those participating in gene therapy studies. That was the message of a recent…