Affiliations 

  • 1 Pediatric Department, Neurology Unit, Al Sabah Hospital, Shuwaikh Industrial 70050, Kuwait
  • 2 Pediatrics Department, Al Adan Hospital, Hadiya 47000, Kuwait
  • 3 Neurology Department, Ibn Sina Hospital, Shuwaikh Industrial 70050, Kuwait
  • 4 Pediatric Department, Al Jahra Hospital, Al Jahra 003200, Kuwait
  • 5 Pediatric Department, Neurology Unit, Mubarak Hospital, Jabriya 46300, Kuwait
  • 6 Pediatric Department, Al Farwaniya Hospital, Al Farwaniya 85000, Kuwait
  • 7 Kuwait Medical Genetics Center, Shuwaikh Industrial 70050, Kuwait
Neurol Int, 2024 Jun 04;16(3):631-642.
PMID: 38921951 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint16030047

Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy is a neuromuscular genetic condition associated with progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide therapy approved for the treatment of 5q spinal muscular atrophy in pediatric and adult patients. The objective of this clinical case series is to describe the efficacy and safety of nusinersen in treating spinal muscular atrophy in 20 pediatric and 18 adult patients across six treatment centers in Kuwait. Functional motor assessments (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders, Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded, and Revised Upper Limb Module) were used to assess changes in motor function following nusinersen treatment. The safety assessment involved clinical monitoring of adverse events. The results demonstrate clinically meaningful or considerable improvement in motor performance for nearly all patients, lasting over 4 years in some cases. A total of 70% of patients in the pediatric cohort and 72% of patients in the adult cohort achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in motor function following nusinersen treatment. Additionally, nusinersen was well-tolerated in both cohorts. These findings add to the growing body of evidence relating to the clinical efficacy and safety of nusinersen.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.