7th Annual Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society (SPNS) conference kicks off today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the three days leading event organized by Maarefah Management the world-class events management company, and a number of distinguished local, regional and international experts in the field of paediatrics neurology contributing this year, the event scientific program will cover topics on epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders,  cerebrovascular  disease, brain  and spinal injury  and  infections, brain and spinal tumours, neuroinflammatory  disorders,  neurogenetic disorders, movement  disorders, inborn errors of metabolism, genetics and molecular diagnostics.

Prof. Fahad Al Bashiri, president of the Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society said, “I would like to welcome you all in the 7th Saudi pediatric neurology society conference, today is the 10th birthday of SPNS, which was established in 2012, although it is a young-age society but the milestone that achieved is great, SPNS achieved many goals in the field of medical education for the healthcare providers, the community service and awareness, and support the research in the field of pediatric neurology. SPNS, had achieved Level B in KPI of the performance in 2020 and Level A in 2021. “And I would like to thank the National and international speakers and moderators, organizing and scientific committees, and Maarefah” company for organization, also the sponsoring companies”. Prof. Fahad Al Bashiri. Added.

Dr.Kalid Hundallah, head of the 7th Annual Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society conference said:  “We would like to welcome you to the opening of the 7th SPNS Congress. every year we try to focus on different theme, this year we are focusing on SMA and Autoimmune Brain Diseases. we are honored by the presence of the international experts, regional and local top speakers who will provide the latest update in the management of pediatric neurological disorders. we would like to thank our strategic partners for their support to the congress, and we would like to thank the organizing company Maarefah for their great organization. I wish you a fruitful meeting”.

Prof. Mohammad Al-Muhaizea, Consultant Pediatric Neurologist & Neuromuscular disorders specialist, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, KSA, said: “Myasthenia Gravis is auto immune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction, and manifesting as fatigable weakness which affects the skeletal muscles as well as  bulbar and respiratory muscles. This disorder has been studied very well in adult-onset disease; however, childhood onset Myasthenia Gravis has many unanswered questions and challenges. Among the challenges is the use of steroids with its known side effects. For how long and how much, and when to use it and when to stop it. The use of second line and third line immune modulators is another challenging topic. Extrapolation of data from adult-onset Myasthenia seems the only alternative in many questions that were raised, particularly for example the role of thymectomy in seropositive Myasthenia Gravis. Myasthenia in children needs further systematic studies and sharing experience to get better answers on some of these challenges. In my talk, I will try to discuss some of these challenges and discuss some case experiences and hopefully this will answer some questions, but most likely will raise some questions among the experts in the field”.

Dr. Waleed Altwaijri, Consultant pediatric neurologist, associate professor, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, KSA, said: “The most common type of headache in children which represents 75% of total headaches in children. It has a genetic predisposition with multifactorial patterns. Migraine Triggers could be Hormonal Triggers, fatigue, and relaxation after stress. Looking at the classification of Migraine, it could be Migraine with aura, Migraine without aura, Chronic migraine, Probable migraine. It’s very important to do the pediatric Migraine disability assessment in order to decide the plan of treatment”.

“Management could be by analgesics, antiemetic’s and triptans. There could be some preventive and prophylaxis treatment, but it will be the pediatric neurologist who will decide when to start a preventive treatment and which prophylactic treatment is the appropriate choice. There are new modality of treatment for Migraine in children, there are new drugs that approved recently bu FDA for both  acute and preventive treatment. Those include Monoclonal Antibody CGRP Antagonists, or Gepant CGRP Antagonists. There are other non-pharmacological modality including botox injection, neuro modulation therapy and herbal or nutritional compounds”.

The event's 7th edition organizing committee includes: Dr. Ahmed Bamaga, Assistant Professor, Consultant pediatric neurologist, Consultant Adult and Paediatric Neuromuscular Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, KSA. Dr. Baleegh Ali Consultant pediatric neurologist King Saud Medica City, KSA. Dr. Deena Bahadur, Consultant pediatric neurologist & clinical neurophysiology, Ministry of Health, KSA. Dr. Sameer Almehmadi, Consultant pediatric neurologist & Epileptologist, Prince Sultan Medical Military City, KSA. Dr. Osama Muthaffar, Consultant pediatric neurologist & Epileptologist Assistant professor, King Abdulaziz university, KSA. 

And the experts committee participating in the scientific program includes: Dr. Ali Al Otaibi, Consultant pediatric neurologist & Epileptologist Chairman of neurophysiology, King Fahd Medical City, KSA. Dr. Ali Alwadei, Consultant pediatric neurologist & Epileptologist Chairman of pediatric neurology department, King Fahd Medical City, KSA. Dr. Brahim Tabarki, onsultant pediatric neurologist Professor of pediatric neurology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA. Dr. Daad ALsowat, Consultant pediatric neurologist & epileptologist Director of pediatric neurology training g program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, KSA. Prof. Mohammed Almuhaizea, Consultant pediatric neurologist & neuromuscular disorders, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, KSA. Dr. Mohammed AlSallumi, Consultant pediatric neurologist & Epileptologist Assistant professor, Qassim university,KSA. Dr. Raidah Albaradie, Consultant pediatric neurologist & Epileptologist Director of comprehensive epilepsy program, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, KSA. Dr. Waleed Altwaijri, Consultant pediatric neurologis, associate professor, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, KSA.