Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology faculty member Prof. Dr. Dilcan Kotan's project titled "Investigation of the Relationship between Semaphorin Levels and Disease in Myasthenia Graves Patients" was entitled to receive support within the scope of Turkey Health Institutes Presidency-TÜSEB – Group A Emergency R&D Projects.
Within the scope of the project, the effect of semaphorins on the cause of the disease in autoimmune myasthenia graves patients followed up in the neuromuscular outpatient clinic of Sakarya Training and Research Hospital will be investigated. Assoc. Prof. from Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Dr. Özlem Aydemir and Specialist Dr. from Sakarya Akyazı State Hospital Esen Ciritli take place as a researcher in the project.
In the project, it is aimed to reduce the effect of biomarkers, which will be investigated for the first time in our country and in the world in the field of neuroscience, on the occurrence of the disease and to contribute to the development of a new diagnostic method.
In line with the results obtained from the project, if results that reveal the relationship between the disease, the severity of the disease and the prognosis of the disease are obtained, a powerful, convenient and easily applicable method will be developed in the diagnosis and follow-up phase of the disease. On the other hand, this study, which can reveal the effects of semaphorins on the healthy maintenance of conduction at the neuromuscular junction for seronegative MG, will also reveal the relationship between antibody titer and semaphorin levels.
The study will also clarify whether semaphorin levels and subgroups would be relevant for patients with high clinical severity in MG patients, and which subgroups would be associated with such a clinic.
As a result of the study, its usability in predicting disease severity and prognosis in MG patients will be investigated with an easily applicable and accessible method. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to our country in terms of both social and economic aspects. In case of diagnostic significance, R&D activity will be carried out to create a diagnostic kit. Thus, it will be easier to identify the patients who will have a severe clinical course in advance. Also, with more aggressive treatment methods and more frequent follow-up in the early period, patients' long-term intensive care admissions, severe disability and high-cost health expenditures caused by the disease will be prevented.
