News

Measuring 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) levels in dried blood spots could help in diagnosing aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a recent study suggests. This approach would be less invasive for patients, who often undergo multiple lumbar punctures before a final diagnosis, and could be used to screen for the disease in newborns.

A new online resource, called AADC Insights, aims to make it easier for healthcare professionals to diagnose and care for people with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. AADC deficiency is an extremely rare condition caused by mutations in the DDC gene, resulting in a lack of a…

Many diseases have their own awareness color — breast cancer is pink, muscular dystrophy is green, and AIDS is red, for example — but what’s the significance of pink, green, blue, and purple lights side-by-side? These are the colors most often used to represent Rare Disease Day. This…

The science behind viral gene therapy — which may hold a potential cure in a single treatment for genetic diseases such as aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency — was highlighted in a recent review. The study, “Current Clinical Applications of In Vivo Gene Therapy with AAVs,” was…

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…

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,…

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…

An Italian panel of experts recommends using vitamin B6, dopamine agonists, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) as first-line therapies for the treatment of people with rare aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. Further, the expert panel called for an across-the-board, multidisciplinary approach for follow-up management of patients…

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…