Latest news with #Guillain-BarréSyndrome
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
GBS-stricken 11-year-old back home after 90 days in hospital
Nagpur: After 90-days of hospitalisation, including 70 days on ventilator support, 11-year-old Viraj returned home on January 22. His remarkable recovery from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has drawn admiration and hope across the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Treated at a private hospital in Nagpur, Viraj's case stands out not just for the severity of his condition but also for his resilience throughout the ordeal. "For over three months, this boy battled GBS with courage that belied his age," said Dr Rajesh Agrawal, a paediatrician, who led Viraj's treatment. "His journey is inspiring. I must also commend his parents, whose unwavering faith in the medical team made all the difference." GBS, a rare autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks the nerves, often leads to rapid-onset muscle weakness and, in severe cases, respiratory failure requiring ventilator support. Though treatable, recovery can be prolonged and challenging. Awareness about GBS remains low despite the severity it poses. Early symptoms such as tingling, weakness, and difficulty in movement should not be ignored, especially after viral infections, as early intervention improves outcomes significantly. According to Nagpur Municipal Corporation data, the city recorded 16 GBS cases between January and May this year (January 4, February 6, March 5, and 1 in April). No new cases have been reported so far in May. While the number of cases is limited and trending downward, doctors warn that the severity of GBS often necessitates long ICU stays. "In several cases, patients remain on ventilator support for weeks, which puts enormous emotional and financial pressure on families," said a senior neurologist. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A relative of a 45-year-old GBS patient currently under treatment shared the painful reality. "It's been over a month on the ventilator, and he was the sole earning member of our family. We have exhausted all our savings, and each day feels like a test of endurance."
Perth Now
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Sufjan Stevens: 'I'm not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet'
Sufjan Stevens is doing 'okay' two years after the death of his partner but is not ready to tour. The 49-year-old singer/songwriter was left devastated in April 2023 after his partner Evans Richardson died and he also struggled with ill-health the same year after being diagnosed with the rare neurological condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome. However, Stevens has insisted he is healing and in a 'state of repair and survival' after a difficult few years. He told Vulture: 'I'm okay. Situation normal, all up, kind of a thing. I've had some pretty difficult things happen to me, so I'm in a state of repair and survival. I'm not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet. But I'm starting to see the light. I'm starting to feel a sense of direction toward something meaningful and substantial. I've been focusing on the moment and on things that feel very silly and Zen: serenity and acceptance and duty and stewardship.' He also revealed he is finding comfort in mundane activities. He said: 'It's a lot of gardening and dog-walking and running a small business. I'm the primary owner of [record label] Asthmatic Kitty now because [Stevens' stepdad and label co-founder] Lowell is retired. I have a team of people, but I'm a lot more involved than I used to be. It feels good to have that to occupy my time right now. I'm doing a lot of ordinary, mundane adulting. The other day, I had to get a septic pump replaced. I have had to retile the kitchen and buy some new appliances, and I've got seedlings under grow lights in the garage. I've been working on other people's music this past year, not my own. It feels like my life is in service to other things right now. It's fine and required of me. I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay. It's been two years of a s***tshow, but I'm okay.'
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka HC permits wife of comatose man to operate his bank accounts
The Karnataka High Court has permitted a woman to operate her comatose husband's bank accounts, appointing her as his legal guardian and directing banks to permit her unhindered access to funds for his treatment and the family's sustenance. Justice M Nagaprasanna, passed the order on April 29, allowing the petition filed by Bengaluru resident, Sandya Anil Kumar, whose husband, HV Anil Kumar, a retired professor, has been in a comatose state since June 23, 2024, following a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder that causes progressive paralysis. The Court noted that the petitioner's husband had been in the ICU for almost nine months and had lost all ability to write or sign any bank document. The petitioner therefore, was left with no source of money even for her day to day sustenance, it noted. 'The petitioner is appointed as guardian to her husband Dr. Anil Kumar H.V., and a direction is issued to respondents No.2 to 4—State Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank—to allow the petitioner to draw money for day-to-day treatment of her husband and for the livelihood of the family,' the Court said. 'They shall not brook any delay and shall permit normal operation of the account at the hands of the petitioner,' it said. Despite submitting extensive medical documentation, including certificates from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute confirming her husband's complete paralysis and inability to communicate, the petitioner, Sandya's repeated requests to access her husband's two SBI accounts and one IOB account were denied, she told the Court. The banks cited procedural limitations and declared the accounts 'inoperative,' forcing her to seek judicial intervention. Also Read: GBS cases persist, 2025 sees unprecedented surge Represented by advocate H Venkatesh Dodderi, Sandya informed the Court that her husband was hospitalised just weeks before his retirement and had been entirely incapacitated since. She said she had exhausted most of her own savings trying to keep up with the mounting costs of round the clock medical care. Justice Nagaprasanna observed that Sandya was not a stranger to the account holder but his lawful spouse, and that her access to the funds was not just logical but 'essential.' He cited past decisions of the Kerala and Allahabad high courts, which had ruled in favour of spouses or close relatives of incapacitated individuals in similar circumstances. The Court also took note of the observations made by the Allahabad high court in a 2020 judgement in a similar case where it had permitted a wife to access her husband's account after a severe stroke rendered him non-responsive. At the time, the Allahabad high court had observed that while there existed laws allowing appointment of guardians for minors and people with disabilities or mental illnesses, such laws did not include people lying in a comatose state. Justice Nagaprasanna said the situation remained the same even now and therefore, Sandya had no other remedy but to approach the Court. The single judge also noted that both the banks where Sandya's husband held accounts had not objected to her petition. They were unable to provide any help in the absence of statutory guidelines. The Karnataka high court also cited the Delhi high court's 2023 order that emphasised that banks must act with 'compassion and urgency' in genuine cases of medical incapacity. Drawing from these precedents, Justice Nagaprasanna underscored the need for a practical, humane approach when financial autonomy intersects with medical emergencies. 'It is in public domain and in medical parlance, this syndrome results in muscle weakness, problem with coordination, complete weakness of the arms and legs, a sort of paralysis, writing or signing of a person with the said syndrome is next to impossible and therefore, the petitioner has now been in a comatose state,' Justice Nagaprasanna said. 'The livelihood of the family is now put to jeopardy, as the averment in the petition is for nine months, the family is unable to meet both the ends, as no money can be drawn from the accounts, one of which also holds the pension of the husband of the petitioner. Owing to these peculiar facts, I deem it appropriate to permit the petitioner, the wife of Dr. Anil Kumar HV to operate the account and draw money, as the petitioner is not a stranger in relationship to the account holder, she is the wife,' he said. The high court also granted Sandya the liberty to approach the court to seek further directions if required and directed the banks to facilitate immediate and seamless access to her husband's accounts.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hansa Biopharma data at the 2025 PNS Annual Meeting demonstrates potential of imlifidase in the treatment of GBS
LUND, Sweden, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hansa Biopharma AB, "Hansa" (Nasdaq Stockholm: HNSA), will present data from its 15-HMedIdeS-09 Phase 2 single arm study of imlifidase, a first in class IgG cleaving enzyme, in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) at the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) Annual Meeting, taking place 17-20 May in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hansa communicated the results from the 15-HMedIdeS-09 study in December 2024. Professor Shahram Attarian, Head of Department of Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Hopitaux Universitaires de Marseille (APHM) and International Coordinating Principal Investigator will present data from 15-HMedIdeS-09 Phase 2 study at the 2025 PNS Annual Meeting. Hitto Kaufmann, Chief R&D Officer, Hansa Biopharma said, "We are pleased to be able to share more detail around the positive data from our 15-HMedIdeS-09 Phase 2 study, which demonstrated the significant potential imlifidase could have in combination with standard of care IVIg for patients with GBS. We know that IgG is a key driver of inflammatory attacks on peripheral nerves and has been clinically linked to the severity and progression of GBS, and that there is a clear and urgent need for new and faster treatment options in GBS. This data offers meaningful insights to help advance the understanding of IgG in GBS and improve patient care." Lead Author Abstract Title Presentation Details Pr Shahram Attarian "Outcome in patients with severe Guillain-Barré Syndrome treated with imlifidase and standard-of-care immunoglobulin" – Oral presentation 18 May, 11:25. Part of the Richard A.C. Hughes Symposium: Clinical Highlights Hansa's Phase 2 15-HMedIdes-09 open-label, single arm study was performed across multi-centers in the UK, France, and the Netherlands evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a single dose of imlifidase (0.25 mg/kg) in 30 adult GBS patients in combination with standard of care (SoC) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). The administration of imlifidase prior to SoC in patients with GBS was considered to be safe and well tolerated. --- ENDS --- Contacts for more information: Evan Ballantyne, Chief Financial OfficerIR@ Stephanie Kenney, VP Global Corporate Affairsmedia@ Notes to editors About imlifidase Imlifidase is a unique antibody-cleaving enzyme originating from Streptococcus pyogenes that specifically targets IgG and inhibits IgG-mediated immune response.1 It has a rapid onset of action, cleaving IgG-antibodies and inhibiting their activity within hours after administration. Imlifidase has conditional marketing approval in Europe and is marketed under the trade name IDEFIRIX® for the desensitization treatment of highly sensitized adult kidney transplant patients with a positive crossmatch against an available deceased donor.1 About imlifidase and autoimmune diseases Autoimmune diseases form a group of serious diseases caused by the immune system attacking the body. In many autoimmune diseases the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body's own proteins, as foreign and mounts an immune response, creating antibodies to attack the body's own cells and tissues.2-4 Pathogenic IgG can contribute to a broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases. Hansa Biopharma is exploring how imlifidase and HNSA-5487 may be able to prevent or slow the progression of these diseases and their debilitating, life-threatening symptoms. Imlifidase is currently being studied in the following autoimmune diseases: anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). HNSA-5487 is moving quickly into the clinical phase focusing on patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and potentially other neuro-autoimmune diseases. About Guillain-Barré Syndrome Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare, acute, paralyzing, inflammatory disease of the peripheral nervous system caused by the immune system damaging nerve cells and structures. It affects 1-2 in 100,000 people annually.5 In GBS, rapid onset and progression of muscle weakness occurs and can lead to severe paralysis of the arms and legs. Approximately 25 percent of patients require mechanical ventilation for days to months and 20 percent are unable to walk after six months.6-8 Even with current standard of care - either plasma exchange or IVIg therapy - GBS is fatal in 3-7% of cases.6-8 Most GBS patients also have sensory disturbance (tingling or numbness or ataxia) and pain, and some patients have double vision or problems with swallowing. GBS may also involve the respiratory muscles, leading to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation.9 About Hansa Biopharma Hansa Biopharma is a pioneering commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company on a mission to develop and commercialize innovative, lifesaving and life-altering treatments for patients with rare immunological conditions. The company has a rich and expanding research and development program based on its proprietary IgG-cleaving enzyme technology platform, to address serious unmet medical needs in autoimmune diseases, gene therapy and transplantation. The company's portfolio includes imlifidase, a first-in-class immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody-cleaving enzyme therapy, which has been shown to enable kidney transplantation in highly sensitized patients and HNSA-5487, a next-generation IgG cleaving molecule with redosing potential. Hansa Biopharma is based in Lund, Sweden, and has operations in Europe and the U.S. The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker HNSA. Find out more at and follow us on LinkedIn. ©2025 Hansa Biopharma AB. Hansa Biopharma, the beacon logo, IDEFIRIX, and IDEFIRIX flower logo are trademarks of Hansa Biopharma AB, Lund, Sweden. All rights reserved. References European Medicines Agency. Idefirix® summary of product characteristics. Available at: Angum F, et al. The Prevalence of Autoimmune Disorders in Women: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2020 May 13;12(5):e8094. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8094. Wang L, et al. Human autoimmune diseases: a comprehensive update. J Intern Med. 2015 Oct;278(4):369-95. doi: 10.1111/joim.12395. Ma H, Murphy C, Loscher CE and O'Kennedy R (2022) Autoantibodies – enemies, and/or potential allies? Front. Immunol. 13:953726. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.953726 McGrogan A, Madle GC, Seaman HE, de Vries CS. The epidemiology of Guillain-Barré syndrome worldwide. A systematic literature review. Neuroepidemiology. 2009;32(2):150-63. doi: 10.1159/000184748. Epub 2008 Dec 17. PMID: D, et al. Neurology. 2000 27;54(12):2311-5 Leonhard SE, Papri N, Querol L, Rinaldi S, Shahrizaila N, Jacobs BC. Guillain-Barré syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2024 Dec 19;10(1):97. doi: 10.1038/s41572-024-00580-4. PMID: 39702645. Fletcher DD, Lawn ND, Wolter TD, Wijdicks EF. Long-term outcome in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation. Neurology. 2000;54(12):2311–5. van den Berg B, Walgaard C, Drenthen J, Fokke C, Jacobs BC, van Doorn PA. Guillain-Barré syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Nat Rev Neurol. 2014 Aug;10(8):469-82. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2014.121. Epub 2014 Jul 15. PMID: 25023340. Willison HJ, Jacobs BC, van Doorn PA. Guillain-Barré syndrome. Lancet. 2016 Aug 13;388(10045):717-27. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00339-1. Epub 2016 Mar 2. PMID: 26948435. This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: 250514 HNSA - PNS Meeting View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
State plans Maharashtra Institute of Virology, along the lines of NIV
In its efforts to strengthen diagnostic and research capabilities in the state, the Maharashtra public health department is all set to establish the Maharashtra Institute of Virology (MIV), along the lines of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, officials in the know within the state government shared on Tuesday. With an initial budget of ₹38 crore, this will the state's first such lab in the city. An official from the health department, who was a part of the team involved in conceptualising the project, said MIV will be set up either by expanding the government's existing diagnostic laboratory in Camp or by developing a new facility within the campus of Aundh District Hospital. In either case, the institute will come up in an area of approximately 30,000 square feet. To start with, the laboratory will operate at Bio-Safety Level 2 (BSL-2) and subsequently upgraded to Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3). Bio safety levels are conducted to test various pathogens. Once up and running, the institute will reduce the state's dependency on NIV especially during outbreaks of viral diseases. This was evident during past episodes such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases, and the recent outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, officials said. Health minister Prakash Abitkar told HT, that in cases of such outbreaks, the state has no option but to depend on NIV. 'We want MIV to be a comprehensive, state-of-the-art large facility that can also attract researchers from around the globe. While such a project was not envisioned earlier, going forward, we don't want to lag behind any government or private institution in testing capabilities.' The public health department operates a laboratory in Camp that was established in 1912. It is spread across 14,000 square feet, functions at the BSL-2 level and is equipped to conduct chemical and microbiological testing of food and water samples. However, over time, officials have emphasised the pressing need for a more advanced facility, particularly during viral outbreaks. A senior health official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the location for the MIV will be finalised soon. 'We have submitted a proposal to the Public Works Department (PWD) to expand the existing Camp laboratory. An additional 14,000 square feet will be used to enhance and upgrade its testing capabilities. This expanded facility will be developed parallel to the MIV,' the official said. Abitkar called the establishment of MIV 'a milestone for the public health department'. 'The facility will not only serve Maharashtra but also assist other states when needed. As a government body, we must build our own world-class infrastructure with equipment that meets global standards. The lab will come up either at our existing facility in Camp or Aundh (where 85 acres of space is lying vacant) and is expected to be operational within six months. If MIV comes up in Aundh, the expansion planned in Camp will be an additional resource,' he said.
