Kauper-Engel Syndrome

(Volume 1) Fires of Creation
(Volume 2) Manifest Destiny

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Kauper-Engel Syndrome (KES) is a medical disorder that occurs in individuals with cybernetic implants due to the body's rejection of their augmentations. It is named after Daniel Kauper a German prosthetics designer and forerunner of modern-day cybernetic prosthesis and Alisa Engel, recipient of a four-limb cybernetic replacement in 2013 and the first-known case of KES. This syndrome is caused by the buildup of glial tissue around the neuroprosthetic junction, the interface between the nervous system and the neural interfaces of cybernetic prosthesis. This tissue, sometimes referred to as "nerve scars", can block electrical signals between the implant wetware and the biological nervous system, resulting in rejection. The glial tissue buildup results from the immune system's tendency to treat any foreign objects as threats to the body's health. The damage done to the myelin of healthy nerves impacted by Kauper-Engel is superficially similar to the effects of Multiple-Sclerosis. This buildup is a safety mechanism that attempts to heal or minimize damage to nerve tissue. Unlike non-cybernetic prosthesis, there is a requirement for any cybernetic augmentation that will "feel" (such as by haptic-response systems) and can be moved by the mind to have a neuroprosthetic junction where it directly interfaces with the nervous system. Any blockage or intermediary will result in latency and loss of functionality.

Symptoms of KES vary in severity, but include dizziness, migraines, loss of control over installed cybernetics, painful seizures, and even death. There is no permanent cure for KES. Patients must administer the an anti-rejection drug weekly to counteract the buildup of glial tissue. If anti-rejection drugs are not available, patients can take magnesium-based supplements which help to relax blood vessels in the brain, alleviating migraines.

Businesses that deal in cybernetic enhancements such as Yamagato Industries, Crito Corporate, and Praxis Heavy Industries also produce — either directly or through subsidiaries — anti-rejection drugs designed to combat this syndrome. Damage caused by Kauper-Engel Syndrome is not reversible.

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