LightCure develops targeted photodynamic therapy for rare disease
With an European grant of eight million euro, an international consortium, coordinated by Radboudumc, will investigate whether congenital hyperinsulinism can be treated with an innovative light therapy.
“It is a frightening disease for babies and children, and it is very stressful as well for parents, family members and close acquaintances,” says Martin Gotthardt, professor of Experimental Nuclear Medicine at Radboudumc. He characterizes the rare condition congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), in which beta cells in the pancreas secrete too much insulin. The result is too little sugar in the blood (a hypoglycemia, or hypo for short), which can cause sweating, shaking, headaches, hunger, dizziness, blurred vision and heart palpitations. If a hypo is not recognized in time – a major risk in babies who cannot tell what they are suffering from – there is even a risk of seizures, unconsciousness, permanent brain damage or death. Thus, 25 to 50 percent of babies with congenital CHI are diagnosed (too) late, leaving them with brain damage such as intellectual disability or cerebral palsy for the rest of their lives.