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Benefits of multidisciplinary care in Prader-Willi syndrome
Alessandro Salvatoni1, Luana Nosetti1, Silvia Salvatore1
1Pediatric Department, Insubria University, Varese, Italy.
Insights
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) management benefits from a multidisciplinary approach, including early diagnosis and growth hormone (GH) treatment. This strategy helps delay overweight development and reduce obesity prevalence in affected children and adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder characterized by obesity.
- Significant progress in PWS diagnosis and treatment has improved patient prognosis over the last two decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach for managing children and adolescents with PWS.
- To highlight the essential roles of various specialists in PWS care.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PubMed for studies on PWS published within the last 10 years.
- Critical summary of relevant research findings.
Main Results:
- Early diagnosis by neonatologists and geneticists is crucial.
- A comprehensive team including pediatric endocrinologists, psychologists, nutritionists, neurologists, sleep specialists, ENT, lung specialists, dentists, orthopedists, and ophthalmologists is vital for follow-up.
- Multidisciplinary care combined with early diagnosis and GH treatment postpones overweight onset and lowers obesity rates in PWS patients.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary care is key to improving outcomes in Prader-Willi syndrome.
- Further advancements are anticipated with specialized PWS management teams and novel therapeutic agents.
Abstract:
Introduction: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the most well-known condition of genetic obesity. Over the past 20 years, advances have been achieved in the diagnosis and treatment of PWS with a significant improvement in prognosis.Areas covered: This review focuses on the benefits of multidisciplinary approach in children and adolescents with PWS. In particular, the neonatologist and geneticist play a key role in early diagnosis and the clinical follow-up of the PWS patient must be guaranteed by a team including pediatric endocrinologist, psychologist, nutritionist/dietician, neurologist/neuropsychiatrist, sleep specialist, ears, nose and throat specialist (ENT), lung specialist, dentist, orthopedist and ophthalmologist and, eventually, gastroenterologist. We searched PubMed and critically summarized what has been reported in the last 10 years on PWS.Expert opinion: The multidisciplinary care in association with an early diagnosis and GH treatment postpones overweight development and decreases prevalence of obesity in individuals with PWS. Further prognostic improvements are expected through the selection of teams particularly experienced in the management of individuals with PWS and the discovery of new drugs.
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