by Dr Catarina Fernandes
It was a great pleasure to hold the first Portuguese EAN Regional Teaching Course in Porto on 13-15 March. This was a three-day course focused on three main topics: transthyretin-related amyloid neuropathy; multiple sclerosis and related disorders; and functional neurological disorders.
The first day was opened by the organisers of the course, the Portuguese Neurological Society (SPN) and the Portuguese Residents and Young Specialists in Neurology Committee (CIREN), namely Dr Isabel Luzeiro, Dr Rui Araújo and Dr Miguel Serôdio. After the opening session, the day started with the topic of the session: Transthyretin-related amyloid neuropathy. The first lecture was provided by Violaine Planté-Bordeneuve, from France, on the topic of pathophysiology and genetics and the second by Prof. Bouke Hazenberg, from the Netherlands, speaking about clinical presentation and genotypic-phenotypic association. After a small break, the session continued with Prof. Isabel Conceição, from Portugal, highlighting the diagnosis, assessment tools and disease monitoring and finished with Prof. Teresa Coelho, the national local speaker, with therapeutic strategies and future directions. During the afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to participate in three case-based workshops provided by the session speakers, focusing on differential diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and genetic counselling.
…
The second day was dedicated to the main topic of multiple sclerosis and related disorders. This session was opened by Prof. Celia Oreja-Guevara, from Spain, who unfortunately could not be at the course in person due to an important EAN meeting but provided us with an amazing overview of family planning in patients with multiple sclerosis via remote link. The day continued with Prof. Georgina Arrambide, also from Spain, reviewing the new biomarkers in multiple sclerosis. The remaining topics were diagnosis and treatment in MOG antibody-associated disease, provided by Prof. Ming Lim, from the United Kingdom, and new insights on immune mechanisms behind demyelinating disorders from Prof. João Cerqueira, our local speaker. As on the first day, after lunch Prof. Georgina, Prof. Ming Lim and Prof. Cerqueira provided the participants with more case-based interactive workshops on the morning’s topics.
At the end of this busy day the faculty and participants enjoyed a gala dinner with live music in Porto’s famous, Casa da Música.
…
The last day of this amazing event ended with the topic functional neurological disorders. After a talk from EAN Resident and Research Fellow Section national representative, Dr Mafalda Soares, the session was opened by Prof. Michele Tinazzi, from Italy, speaking about the epidemiology and comorbidities of functional neurological disorders. This was followed by Prof. Tiago from the United Kingdom, on functional movement disorders, Prof. Selma Aybek Rusca, from Switzerland on psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, and Prof. Verónica Cabreira, our local speaker, on the hot topic functional cognitive disorders. The final day was concluded with the exam and the closing ceremony with Dr Rui Araújo representing the SPN and Dr Catarina Fernandes as president of the CIREN.
…
The teaching course was attended by 112 participants, including neurologists, neurology residents and fellows from all regions of Portugal, as well as international participants from Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, and Turkey.
We have received excellent feedback, not only from the attendees but also from the faculty, for the organisation of this EAN RTC. We hope to continue this collaboration with the EAN in the future. We are very proud of our first RTC.
Find out more about EAN regional teaching events and how you can host them in your country – click here!
