{"id":588,"date":"2019-04-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/mucopolysaccharide-storage-diseases\/588\/"},"modified":"2020-01-15T08:58:09","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T08:58:09","slug":"mucopolysaccharide-storage-diseases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/mucopolysaccharide-storage-diseases\/588\/","title":{"rendered":"Mucopolysaccharide storage diseases and EU care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Susanne Kircher and Michaela Weigl of MPS Europe GmbH discuss the importance of raising awareness of rare diseases and MPS across Europe.<\/h2>\n

Mucopolysaccharide storage diseases (MPS) are rare lysosomal disorders caused by inherited enzyme deficiencies involved in the degradation process of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of connective tissue. The enzyme deficiency results in progressive accumulation of GAGs in the cells followed by increasing organ sizes and disturbances of organ functions. Besides various somatic symptoms \u2013 such as distinct faces, small stature, skeletal deformities, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly \u2013 patients develop successive organ dysfunctions, such as cardiac and respiratory problems, impairment of visual and auditory systems; and intellectual disabilities.<\/p>\n

Mucopolysaccharide storage diseases are very rare \u2013 on average, one in 35,000 people are affected. Some types of MPS (for instance type VII and IX) were only observed in a few families worldwide or in single families. In general, there is not much knowledge about MPS, and the affected and their families feel isolated. Although there is some effective treatment by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for five of the 11 different MPS types, which means regular infusions of the missing enzymes for the patients however, not all patients are properly diagnosed, have the appropriate medical care and treatment, or can benefit from the therapeutic options due to the regulations of their national health systems.<\/p>\n

Many efforts toward improved and earlier diagnoses, better medical care and treatment, more knowledge about the disease, and more awareness for the disorder have been conducted by the families of affected patients themselves; that which could not be realised by a single family became reality as a merger of parents\u2019 groups. The first European parents\u2019 groups started in the 1980s with the English and Austrian Mucopolysaccharide Storage Diseases Society. Many others followed suit and it is a fact that any research for enzyme replacement therapy (and first trials with gene therapy) was based on the incredible efforts of the patients and their families. None of the clinical trials would have been possible without their engagement.<\/p>\n

On 30 November 2017, MPS Europe GmbH was founded to give more than 2000 European MPS patients a stronger common voice and to increase awareness of the rare disorders. After a two-year preliminary phase and intensive preparations, the European umbrella organisation started with 12 members:\u00a0 Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In 2019, five additional countries \u2013 Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Russia and Turkey \u2013 will join MPS Europe gGmbH.<\/p>\n

The office of the non-profit organisation is in Germany (Aschaffenburg); on the advisory board there are five Member States: MPS Switzerland (represented by Alfred Wiesbauer, chairman), Austria (represented by Michaela Weigl, vice-chairman), MPS Serbia (represented by Dragana Miletic Lajko), MPS Spain (represented by Ana Maria Mendoza Mastre) and MPS Germany (represented by Georg Schetter). The executive directors are Marija Joldic and Carmen Kunkel.<\/p>\n

The Mission of MPS Europe is to enhance the quality of life of persons affected with mucopolysaccharide storage diseases and related conditions across Europe. The tasks and objectives are to offer support for MPS patients and national MPS societies, support for the availability of adequate care and treatment for MPS patients, to represent patients in European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other European institutions; and to implement an independent European patients\u2019 registry. Further aims include the organisation of European and international workshops and conferences, support of MPS groups, improved information about recent clinical trials, state-of-the art-therapies, and organisation of activities on the annual International MPS Day: May 15th, 2019.<\/p>\n

In 2018 MPS Europe focused on adult MPS and related diseases patients at the first Adult MPS patients meeting \u201cStand on Your Own\u201d. The goal of this meeting was to encourage and empower adult MPS patients to be independent \u2013 stand on their own. This goal was achieved when patients with adult mucopolysaccharide storage diseases and related conditions compared their experiences of living in different European countries and proposed solutions for improving their own lives. Participants between the ages of 17 and 53 years attended from eight different European countries. The agenda included following topics:<\/p>\n