SUS starts offering edaravone to treat ALS in the early stages

According to the text, the medicine can be used by patients with the disease in grades 1 or 2, and with a disease duration of two years or less.

The disease affects the nervous system in a degenerative and progressive way, causing irreversible motor paralysis.

The ordinance determines that the ministry's technical areas have a maximum period of 180 days to offer the medicine on the public network, in accordance with art. 25 of Decree No. 7,646, of 2011.

The recommendation report from the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies into the Unified Health System (Conitec) on the technology is available on the agency's website.

ALS occurs when the neurons of patients affected by the disease wear out or die and are no longer able to send messages to the muscles.

This leads to short- and medium-term weakening of the muscles, involuntary contractions and inability to move the arms, legs and body.

ALS often begins with muscle spasms and weakness in an arm or leg, difficulty swallowing, or slurred speech, but as it progresses, it profoundly affects the ability to move, speak, and even breathe.

Death generally occurs between three and five years after diagnosis. About 25% of patients survive for more than five years.

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