Szeged once again became the focus of attention after the first SMA newborn was identified in the screening program that started on March 1, 2024 in the Screening Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases of the Pediatric Clinic of SZTE SZAKK. This discovery is further evidence that early diagnosis can save lives.

Illustration: freepik.com

The screening center in Szeged has already achieved outstanding results when it discovered a total of five SMA newborns during the 2023 pilot study. The importance of newborn screening is emphasized by the fact that serious, irreversible health damage can be prevented or at least reduced through the early detection of the disease and the use of appropriate therapy.

The managers of the screening laboratory hope that, thanks to the national support, SMA screening will continue in the future, thus contributing to a significant improvement in the quality of life of even more newborns. The success of the screening program is a message not only for professionals, but also for society as a whole: early detection and treatment can save lives.