AANEM Education News Express

Science News: Anti-HMGCR Myopathy

    10/16/2018
Submitted by Benn E. Smith, MD, News Science Editorial Board
Edited by Leigh Maria K. Ramos-Platt, MD, News Science Editorial Board

This paper provides a succinct overview of anti-HMGCR myopathy, a readily diagnosable autoimmune necrotizing myopathy which can mimic LGMD.

Science News: Individualized Immunoglobulin Therapy in Chronic Immune-Mediated Peripheral Neuropathies

    10/2/2018
Submitted by Benn E. Smith, MD, News Science Editorial Board
Edited by Leigh Maria K. Ramos-Platt, MD, News Science Editorial Board

This article is recommended by the AANEM News Science Editorial Board due to its clear presentation of IVIg immunology, biology, and pharmacokinetics. It discusses the well-known “wearing off” phenomenon as well as a recommended algorithm to be used to adjust frequency and dose adjustments. 

September 30 is Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day!

    9/30/2018
AANEM is pleased to play a role in helping to increase understanding about Limb Girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) on LGMD Awareness Day (September 30, 2018)! View AANEM resources to help you learn more about this disease. 

Science News: Muscular and Extramuscular Clinical Features of Patients with Anti-PM/Scl Autoantibodies

    9/18/2018
Submitted by Leigh Maria K. Ramos-Platt, MD, News Science Editorial Board
Edited by Benn E. Smith, MD, News Science Editorial Board

This study focuses on whether there were features which set anti-PM/Scl autoantibody positive myositis patients apart from those patients with the 3 most common myositis (Dermatomyositis, Antisynthetase Syndrome, and Immune Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy). Using data from the John Hopkins Myositis Center Longitudinal Cohort collected between 2002 and 2016, various clinical and diagnostic study parameters found that there were differences which set these patients apart. 

Science News: Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Multicentre, Double-blind, Randomised Phase 2 Trial

    9/5/2018
Submitted by Leigh Maria K. Ramos-Platt, MD, News Science Editorial Board
Edited by Benn E. Smith, MD, News Science Editorial Board

Eculizumab is an anti-C5 humanized monoclonal antibody. Misawa et al report on a 34 patient, 24-week double-blind, randomized phase 2 study comparing IVIG and 4 weeks of eculizumab (900 mg per dose) versus IVIG and 4 weeks of placebo.

September is Dystonia Awareness Month!

    9/1/2018
AANEM is proud to help increase understanding about dystonia during Dystonia Awareness Month! 

Science News - Muscle MRI in Patients with Dysferlinopathy: Pattern Recognition and Implications for Clinical Trials

    8/22/2018
Submitted by Francisco E. Gomez, MD, News Science Editorial Board 
Edited by Benn E. Smith, MD, News Science Editorial Board

This article summarizes a research paper in which the authors sought to describe the pattern and natural history of muscle involvement in patients with dysferlinopathies via MRI studies. 

Science News: Three Article Summaries on Recent Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research Findings

    8/8/2018

• Serum neurofilament light chain levels as a marker of upper motor neuron degeneration in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
• Cerebrospinal fluid macrophage biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Electromyography study of the thoracic paraspinal and rectus abdominis muscles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis