EDMA to endorse the campaign on Hypoparathyroidism

On the occasion of the World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness Day 2011, EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, highlights the crucial role the In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) industry can play to effectively testing this rare endocrine condition.

Brussels 5 January 2011 - EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, strongly supports the 2011 World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness Day as the latter reminds that this condition can be easily diagnosed via simple blood testing to measure calcium.

Hypoparathyroidism describes a rare condition in which there are low circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) or insensitivity to its action. The causes of hypoparathyroidism vary; however, they all share a common feature of hypocalcemia. The presentation of hypoparathyroidism also varies depending on the chronicity of the resultant hypocalcemia. Muscle spasms/tetany, paresthesias, and seizures may occur in an acute onset, whereas chronic hypoparathyroidism may only be evidenced by visual impairment due to cataract formation

Started on 5 January 2007, the World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness Day is essentially about increasing awareness amongst different stakeholders, raising money, and promoting better medical understanding.

To this end, EDMA has proven a long standing commitment to chronic diseases in general as well as to the promotion of the added value of testing and early diagnosis through Lab Tests Online, a global, multilingual, peer-reviewed, patient centered, information portal on laboratory testing organized by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and coordinated by EDMA in Europe.

EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, represents national associations and major companies engaged in the research, development, manufacture or distribution of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) tests in Europe.

Through its membership, EDMA represents in total more than 500 companies (or over 700 legal entities) across Europe. The mission of EDMA is to raise awareness of the importance, usefulness and added value that diagnostic information can provide to healthcare. For this purpose, EDMA cooperates with European institutions, patients groups, trade associations, health professionals and academia to support an appropriate regulatory system, to work towards a realistic economic environment for healthcare in Europe and to be an effective voice in globalisation.