Details of the conference<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe main part of the conference started with about 180 participants from all parts of Austria, but also neighbouring countries such as Switzerland and Germany. The topics focused on clinical care and treatment, therapy and clinical trials for future therapies, especially gene therapy and substrate reduction therapies. The newer and more efficient diagnostic procedures for the biochemical or genetic tests was also presented.<\/p>\n
Further topics explored included many of the younger and adult patients who are treated by enzyme replacement therapies, the intentions, importance, but also problems of the yearly surveys, and some of the patients and families attending the conference shared their daily life with MPS, along with the challenges, hopes and frustration they experience.<\/p>\n
Sophie from Switzerland, a young lady with paraplegia, who was wheelchair bound, shared her story in an incredibly positive way with the aid of her mother about her life with MPS. She is studying, working, playing music and taking part in sports for handicapped persons, all with the use of the newest technologies.<\/p>\n
From the medical perspective, a review about the last 35 years was presented. This gave an impressive testimony about the development in diagnostics, knowledge and new therapies in the world of MPS.<\/p>\n
It was a great concession and offer of the medical doctors and carers from all parts of Austria, especially from the Medical Universities in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg, to present the latest news in the MPS field for this special patient\u2019s group.<\/p>\n
Throughout the week an increasing number of participants attended from diverse European countries such as Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia.<\/p>\n
An insight into the programme <\/strong><\/h3>\nThere was a full program for the body and health, with a total number of 540 therapy units spread across physiotherapy, water therapy, Rolfing, cranio-sacral-therapy, massage, dog assisted therapy, Feldenkrais therapy, nutrition counselling and more.<\/p>\n
For the family members and the patients able to take part, Smovey, walking, mountain riding, and dancing was offered, the conference supported the concept of having creative and stimulating hours spent together in a positive atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Every hour a medical talk was scheduled which allowed participants to speak with specialists such as paediatricians\/geneticist about any problems.<\/p>\n
Memorial hour and effective training<\/strong><\/h3>\nMany patients have passed away, with the number of deaths being incredibly high. A memorial hour was scheduled for parents and loved ones who have experienced loss, and was commemorated with harp music, candle lights and biblical stories.<\/p>\n
Many parents have lost their children at early stages such as during childhood or early adolescence. In some cases, they were not able to help in acute situations such as allergic reaction, aspiration or unexpected respiratory arrest, therefore, a workshop was included in the programme of the MPS therapy week which was designed to prepare and train parents for this situation.<\/p>\n
Upon the second set of training, one of the participating mothers shared that she was already able to help her child successfully based on the training she had undergone \u2013 and thanks to this training, she was able to attend the therapy week again with her child.<\/p>\n
It is noteworthy to mention, that even during the therapy week, the small number of patients under therapy could get their weekly infusions with enzyme replacement therapies. The well-trained home-care organizations, usually visiting the patients at home, attended the event to provide patients with the required infusions.<\/p>\n