NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE CENTER: GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS

• General information
  • We treat over 2,000 outpatients each year in our Neuromuscular Clinic at Washington University in Saint Louis.
    
  • Specific adult & childhood disease syndromes we treat include
    • Motor Neuron Disorders
      • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig's Disease)
      • Spinal Muscular Atrophy
    • Muscle Disorders
      • Muscular Dystrophy
      • Mitochondrial & Metabolic myopathies
      • Immune & Inflammatory Myopathies
    • Nerve Disorders: Peripheral neuropathies & Pain
    • Neuromuscular Junction: Myasthenia gravis & Myasthenic syndromes
  • Other patients
    • Most have disorders of: Muscle; Peripheral nerve
    • Some have: Ataxia; Spinal cord disorders
  • Neuromuscular Disorder Physicians: All are specialty trained in neuromuscular disorders
    • Pediatric: Craig Zaidman; Alan Pestronk
    • Adults: 9 Physicians
  • Our Neuromuscular Clinic
    
  • Is supported, in part, by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
  • Is a designated ALS clinic.
  • Works closely with ALS Association (ALSA) staff
  • Has additional subspecialty care, available after initial visits to our clinic, for
    • Inclusion body myositis
    • Muscular dystrophy
    • Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
    • Multidisciplinary care of adults and children with neuromuscular disorders
    • Amyloid disorders
    • Neuromuscular disease research
  • A full range of available services includes
    • Medical Diagnostic & Treatment
    • Physical & Occupational therapy
    • Respiratory care
    • Nutritional, Swallowing & Speech services
    • Cardiac evaluation
    • Orthotics
    • Social work
    • Medical & Rehabilitation supplies
    • Wheelchair evaluation.
    • Ultrasound: Neuromuscular
    • Electrodiagnostics: Neuromuscular
    • Pathology: Muscle, Nerve & Skin
    • Autoantibody testing: Neuromuscular
    • Clinical Research: Testing & Evaluation
    • Genetics: Neuromuscular
    • Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) services
      • For all covered MDA-related disorders
      • The MDA is the only ALS service organization in Saint Louis committed
          to provide all their services for all ALS patients and families
  
  
• Clinic Appointments: New Patient
  • Please send or fax medical records to
    Neuromuscular Disease Center
    Box 8111-Neurology
    660 South Euclid Avenue
    Saint Louis, MO 63110
    Fax new patient records to: 314-747-4629
    General fax #: 314-362-3752
    
  • It is very helpful if the records include
    • A diagnosis or reason for referral
    • A recent history and physical examination by a neurologist
    • Insurance information
    • The name and address of referring physician(s) to whom we can send our reports
  • After two weeks, if necessary, call 314-362-6981 to discuss the status of your appointment
  • Patient appointments & Other information: Call 314-362-6981
    • New patients: Option 11
    • Appointments (Schedule, Cancel or Confirm): Option 12
    • Medication refill or Pharmacy: Option 13
    • General information: Option 14
    • Clinical research studies: Option 15
    • Talk to a representative, or Urgent referral: Option 20
  • Medical emergency: 314-388-6138
  
  
• Telephone Instructions
  
  
• Clinic visits: Patients should come to
  • The Center for Advanced Medicine (Forest Park & Euclid), 6th floor
  • Parking: North garage on Euclid Ave
  • Maps
    • Area
    • Clinic & Hospital
  
  
• Clinic appointments: Other
  • Electrodiagnostic (EMG & Nerve conduction testing): 314-362-3324
  • Inpatient neuromuscular consultations: Call 314-362-6981, option 20
  
  

• Our active electrodiagnostic service (314-362-3324) studies 2,500 patients per year.
• Available tests include
  • Electromyography
  • Nerve conduction studies
  • Repetitive nerve stimulation
  • Single fiber EMG
  • Quantitative sensory evaluation
  • Autonomic testing
  • Ultrasound: Nerve & Muscle
• More information: See WUP website

• The Neuromuscular Clinical Laboratory provides
  •   Antibody testing
    • Antibodies tested
    • Test request form
  •   Neuromuscular pathology (Muscle & Nerve biopsies).
    • We evaluate more than 600 muscle & 100 nerve biopsies each year.
      • Histology
      • Muscular dystrophy testing
      • Myositis & Immune testing
      • Mitochondrial testing
      • Glycogen pathway testing
    • Test request form
• Help: Call 314-362-2406 for instructions on sending
  • Biopsies: Muscle or Nerve
  • Serums

NEUROMUSCULAR PERSONNEL

• Clinic patient review (weekly)
• Clinical rounds (4 times weekly);
• Electrodiagnostic
  • Clinical conference (Al-Lozi; weekly)
  • Basic EMG & Nerve conduction conference (Al-Lozi et al.; weekly)
  • Electrophysiology teaching conference (weekly)
• Muscle and Nerve biopsy
  • Reading (weekly; Saturday mornings)
  • Teaching & Unknowns (weekly; Wednesday 3:00 pm)
• Neuromuscular Journal Club (weekly; Friday 12:15 pm),
• Laboratory meetings (Pestronk; weekly); (Basic group; 2x/month)