Website and Blog for the Sam McMahon Trust

A recent study has shown that people with Friedreich’s Ataxia have heart problems even though current tests (ECG and Ultrasound) do not show signs of heart disease. The article concludes that

Patients with FA have abnormal myocardial perfusion reserve that parallels met-S severity. Impaired perfusion reserve and fibrosis occur in the absence of significant hypertrophy…

This is a significant finding and it’s important that families are aware of this information. It would probably be useful to print off the article and keep it with your records. To read the complete article click here.

Note: This post provides details about recent research findings. It is NOT a substitute for qualified medical opinion. If you have concersn about your health, you should consult with your doctors immediately.

The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) have just published their updated research pipeline and it makes for great reading. The graph communicates the progress of research. FARA supports the advancements of these treatments. They firmly believe that there is merit in each of the approaches and that a treatment will come in the combination of a number of therapies. To see the graph click here.

An early Christmas present!