No one knows the cause, but doctors say it's hereditary.
HealthFirst reporter Leslie Toldo says a new test can detect the disease in
kids.
Softball means the world to 11-year-old Danielle Paradis. "The day I started
playing it, I fell in love with the sport."
That world fell apart when she was diagnosed with scoliosis last year. "If I get like tagged in the back or something, I might start crying 'cause it really hurts."
Her spine has a 20-degree curvature. Experts say anything over 10 degrees
needs attention. A normal spine has no curve.
Doctors can put young patients in a brace, which slows curve progression in
75 percent of cases. While they may prevent surgery, braces can be bulky and
embarrassing.
"If your curve is not going to change, then we can kind of let you go free, but there is no way we have right now to really accurately tell us that," Dr. Mark Lee explained.
Lee, from the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, says this Scoliscore
test may solve the problem. A saliva sample is checked for 53 DNA markers.
Patients then get a score between one and 200.
"A low score tells me that the curve that you have, when you come to see me, will not change at all. And the high score tells me that the curve probably will change and you might need surgery down the line," Lee said.
For Danielle's parents, it offers a sort-of security.
"No matter how early you detected it, if it does go to surgery, you know it couldn't have been prevented," Tina and Jeff Paradis said.
Danielle now wears a back brace at night, but still suits up for every game.
"I love the rush. I just love everybody on my team," Danielle said.
This test can be performed on 9-13 year olds who've already been diagnosed
with scoliosis. Many insurance companies cover the cost of the test.
GENETIC TEST FOR SPINAL PAIN
BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most
often during the growth spurt just before puberty. While scoliosis can be caused
by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most
scoliosis cases is unknown. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but severe
scoliosis can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the
amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function
properly. Children who have mild scoliosis are monitored closely, usually with
X-rays, to see if the curve is getting worse. In many cases, no treatment is
necessary. Some children will need to wear a brace to stop the curve from
worsening. Others may need surgery to straighten severe cases of scoliosis.
The Scoliscore Test is the first and only genetic test proven to give
physicians and family insight into the possible progression of a child's
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), thereby allowing for a more personalized
treatment plan for the child. The test should be administered prior to beginning
scoliosis treatment, since the Scoliscore test may help physicians make more
informed decisions about how to manage a child's curve. (Source: Scoliscore.com)
TAKING THE TEST: Physicians can administer this test by collecting a child's
saliva sample during a routine office visit. The test assigns a numerical value
(between 1 and 200) to the likelihood of curve progression based on the child's
DNA, and the current Cobb angle. The physician can then use this information,
combined with other clinical factors, to determine a personalized treatment plan
for the child.
HOW THE TEST WORKS: The test uses specific DNA markers to predict the
likelihood that an AIS curve will progress. Researchers identified 28 signs in
DNA that an AIS curve will progress, and 25 signs in DNA that an AIS curve will
not progress. Children with AIS have both sets of signs in their DNA. The ratio
of signs present in a DNA sample predicts the likelihood that the child's curve
will or won't progress. A validated algorithm generates a Scoliscore number
unique to your child's individual genetic markers. This score is provided to the
child's physician in a test report.
WHAT'S NEXT: Axial Biotech, Inc. - the company that manufactures this product
- believes they have broken the code to scoliosis. They are now trying to
identify genetic links that could potentially serve as a basis for a predictive
test for the treatment of degenerative disc disease.
For more information:
Eric K. Olson
Axial Biotech, Inc.
801-984-9100 x 129
eolson@axialbiotech.com
