News Express

Science News: Comparison Between Rituximab Treatment for New-Onset Generalized Myasthenia Gravis and Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

March 29, 2021

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a university hospital in Sweden to compare efficacy between rituximab and conventional immunosuppressants in the refractory and newly diagnosed generalized myasthenia gravis.

Sandra Hearn, MD, Receives 2021 Surinderjit Singh Young Lectureship Award

March 21, 2021

The AANEM is excited to announce that Sandra Hearn, MD, is the 2021 winner of the Surinderjit Singh Young Lectureship Award. Dr. Hearn was chosen by AANEM President Bonnie Weigert, MD. As part of the award, Dr. Hearn will be a plenary speaker at the 2021 AANEM Annual Meeting in Aurora, Colorado, which will take place October 13-16. Her plenary is called, “Pushing the Boundary of Normal in Electrodiagnostic Interpretation.”

 

Science News: Which Ultrasound Parameter is More Accurate in the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

March 17, 2021

Ultrasound (US) can be useful to diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Most US CTS studies have looked at median nerve cross sectional area (CSA). Others use resistive index (RI) or strain ratio (SR) as the criteria. This study compared CSA with RI and SR in CTS.

Science News: Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Predicts Long-Term Prognosis in Guillain-Barré Syndrome Patients

February 16, 2021

The neurofilament light (NfL) chain is an increasingly studied biomarker for axonal injury, previously studied in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This study evaluates it as a prognostic maker in GBS.

Science News: Retrospective Analysis of Eculizumab in Patients with Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Negative Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Series

February 02, 2021

Eculizumab has been approved and used for AChR antibody positive myasthenia gravis but little is known about its efficacy for AChR seronegative cases. In this small retrospective study (N=6), treatment outcome with eculizumab for AChR negative patients was assessed.

President Biden’s Initial Health Care Priorities

January 25, 2021

On Wednesday, January 20, President Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. In typical presidential fashion, shortly after being sworn in, President Biden issued several executive orders, many of which related directly to health care and, more specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, as is customary, members of President Trump’s administration, including the heads of HHS and CMS, resigned their positions prior to Biden’s swearing-in.

Science News: Placebo Effect in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: The PATH Study and a Systematic Review

January 19, 2021

Placebos (pharmacologically inert preparations) are used in treatment trials to assess the true effect of trial medication. Placebo responses have been noted in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) trials including the most recent PATH trial investigating subcutaneous IVIG as maintenance therapy.

COVID-19 Vaccine: AANEM Publishes Guidance for Patients with NMDs

January 14, 2021

At the end of 2020, with announcement of the impending approval of not one but two vaccines against COVID-19, AANEM staff faced a sudden influx of phone calls and emails from members, nonmember physicians, and even some NM patients inquiring about the safety of such vaccines for NM patients. The AANEM Quality & Patient Safety Committee quickly took up the task of researching the data available on the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as looking at the safety and efficacy of vaccines in general in this patient population.