Sickle Cell Anemia: “The Pain is Always There”

  Malika Abrams, a young woman with sickle cell anemia and avascular necrosis, describes how sickle cell anemia affects her.  Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder. Early symptoms usually occur in childhood and include swelling, fatigue, and jaundice....

Why is Newborn Screening So Confusing?

  Damara Ortiz, MD, FAAP, FACMG, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Lysosomal Storage Disorders Program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, gives an overview of the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) and why it often...

What is Metachromatic Leukodystrophy?

   Francesca Fumagalli, PhD, Researcher of Cardiovascular Medicine at Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri (IRCCS), gives an overview of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). MLD is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by arylsulfatase A (ARSA)...

What Physicians Should Know About PH1

  Tracy McGregor, MD, Senior Director of Clinical Research at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, discusses what she feels physicians should know about primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). PH1 is a rare genetic disease in which excessive oxalate production leads to painful...