UT Southwestern establishes Multiple System Atrophy Clinical Center of Excellence with donation from patient
By Julie Kirchem, Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics
DALLAS - September 21, 2015 - Pravin Khemani, M.D., and Steven Vernino, M.D., Ph.D., are co-directors of a new clinic at UT Southwestern Medical Center that will provide multidisciplinary care for patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA).
The clinic will also provide support for family and caretakers of patients with MSA, a disease that is similar to Parkinson disease but has more widespread effects on the body and brain. Patients experience loss of balance and coordination as well as impaired function of the autonomic nervous system, which leads to fainting, constipation and problems with bladder function.
The Multiple System Atrophy Clinical Center (MSA-CC) was established with the support of a donation from Horace “Wade” Reed, a patient of Dr. Khemani’s who was diagnosed with MSA.
“When I explained the overall vision of the clinic, Mr. Reed was enthusiastic about supporting it,” said Dr. Khemani. “He recognizes the need for multidisciplinary care in MSA.”
MSA is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians since its symptoms mimic diseases such as Parkinson disease and other conditions. In addition, patients and their families often need support to handle the accumulating burden of the disease.
“Neurodegenerative diseases like MSA are particularly difficult for families and caregivers because patients rapidly lose independence and require help with mobility, blood pressure management as well as bowel and bladder function," said Dr. Vernino. "It can be challenging for them to find the resources they need.”
There is no cure for MSA but symptoms can be treated with a multidisciplinary collaboration among specialists including neurologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, otolaryngologists, sleep and pulmonary specialists, urologists, nurses, speech therapists, nutritionists, and social workers.
The clinic will also provide opportunities to integrate clinical care with teaching and research.
“I am collaborating with Dr. Vernino, other faculty members and scientists to explore translational research in MSA involving patients from our clinic,” said Dr. Khemani.
Dr. Khemani says the larger goal is to grow the clinic through philanthropic support to take care of the needs of local and national MSA patients and their families, to perform scientific research towards better therapies, and train the next generation of specialists to diagnose and treat MSA effectively.
Make Donation to MSA Clinic
Contact darrin.goldin@utsouthwestern.edu