Holguín: Specialists carry out studies on genetic predisposition of patients with ataxia to COVID-19

Photo: ACN

A project to determine the genetic predisposition of patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia type II (SCA2) to suffer from COVID-19 is being developed by specialists from Holguín, the Cuban province with the highest prevalence of this disease.

Dr. Luis Almaguer, at the head of the project, said to the Cuban News Agency that the study aims to determine the risk of people with this neurodegenerative condition to evolve into serious forms of the pandemic, based on genetic variants.

The project, said the specialist, began to be developed about six months ago and includes samples taken from 70 patients, which have been analyzed from hematological and molecular variables in order to determine the susceptibility to Sars-CoV-2.

Among the preliminary results of the program, which is in the execution phase, it stands out that blood group A has a high risk of presenting serious complications in the clinical evolution of the condition, with a high autochthonous transmission spread to several Cuban provinces.

Almaguer, who is also linked to the Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH) in thecity of Holguín, noted that based on these conclusions it is possible to design an intervention and orientation strategy to contribute to greater protection from the patients.

SCA2 is a hereditary and progressive disease, whose onset varies between two and 65 years of age and affects the control of eye movements and the performance of actions such as swallowing.

Holguín concentrates 80 percent of the cases with Spinocerebellar Ataxia type II existing in Cuba and so far the comprehensive rehabilitation program, adjusted to the characteristics of each patient, constitutes one of the ways to improve the quality of life of these people.