LAM may be a progressive, cystic lung disease that particularly targets women. Well, this difficult to fight ailment can now be treated, or at the following piece of information suggests so. In a major breakthrough, scientists from the Oregon Health and Science University have now laid hands on a novel drug called sirolimus that prevents rejection in organ transplant patients and helps treat LAM.
The study included 13 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. A total of 89 women diagnosed with lymphangioleiomyomatosis or LAM, aged 18 or older were evaluated. While some were subjected to sirolimus, others received a placebo. It was observed that sirolimus seemingly stabilized lung function and linked with improvement in measures of functional performance as well as the quality of life.
Just like cancer, LAM too may occur when cells grow out of control. In case of LAM, cells present within the blood vessels and breathing passages of the lung allegedly grow out of control. The newly introduced medication apparently halts this abnormal growth of cells. Alan Barker, M.D., an OHSU expert in rare lung diseases, a principal investigator in the study and colleagues conclude that the study findings can help tackle LAM.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Rare Disease Research; the Food and Drug Administration; the LAM Foundation; the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the University of Cincinnati; the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance Rothberg Courage Award; and Vi and John Adler and the Adler Foundation.