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  1. Home
  2. Clinical Programs
  3. Neuromuscular

Neuromuscular Program

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Neuromuscular clinics | Neuropathy Clinic | Muscular dystrophy clinics | ALS Clinic | Schedule an appointment | Clinical trials


Neuromuscular clinics at UCLA

Undiagnosed conditions: Faculty in the UCLA Neuromuscular Medicine Program specialize in patients with undiagnosed conditions. These conditions may be genetic or acquired. Different diagnostic tools may need to be employed, including specialized electrodiagnostic testing, genetic testing, muscle and/or nerve biopsy, and muscle imaging (MRI, ultrasound, etc). If you or someone you know has an undiagnosed neuromuscular condition, you should ask your physician to refer to our clinic.

Services available through our clinic include:

  • Electrodiagnostic testing (EMG and nerve conduction studies)
  • Single fiber EMG
  • Muscle biopsy
  • Nerve biopsy
  • Multidisciplinary nerve/muscle slide review

Rare conditions: Rare neuromuscular conditions will sometimes require specialized treatment, including medical therapeutics, rehabilitative care, preventive care, and interdisciplinary medicine. The UCLA Neuromuscular program maintains updated treatment protocols that focus on state-of-the-art treatment for rare conditions.

To schedule an appointment, please call 310-825-7266.


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Neuropathy clinic

The UCLA Neuropathy Clinic provides comprehensive evaluation, sophisticated tests, and state-of-the-art multidisciplinary care for patients with acquired and/or hereditary peripheral nerve disorders (motor, sensory, autonomic).

Acquired diseases:

  1. Immune-mediated neuropathies
    • Neuropathies associated with systemic diseases such as Sjogren syndrome, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, etc.
    • Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and related disorders.
    • Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (CIDP) and related disorders.
  2. Focal neuropathies (radiculopathies, plexopathies, mononeuropathies)
  3. Neuropathies due to trauma
  4. Neuropathies due to toxin (chemotherapy, heavy metal, medications, etc.)
  5. Amyloid neuropathy
  6. Neuropathies due to unidentified causes
  7. Neural disorders causing skeletal muscle overactivity: cramps, stiff person syndrome, Isaac syndrome

Hereditary diseases:

  1. Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP)
  2. Hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP)
  3. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)
  4. Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP)
  5. Fabry disease
  6. Erythromelalgia

To schedule an appointment, please call: 310-825-7266 or email the neuromuscular coordinator, Yvette Johnson, at YJohnson@mednet.ucla.edu.


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Muscular dystrophy Clinics

These clinics provide state-of-the-art care for adult and pediatric patients who have been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and related disorders. These may include:

  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • Congenital muscular dystrophy
  • Congenital myopathies
  • Limb Girdle muscular dystrophy
  • Spinal muscular atrophy
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
  • Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

Center For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA Pediatric Neuromuscular Clinic:
This clinic is sponsored by the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. This clinic is a Certified California Children's Services Care Center. This clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic with multiple specialties in attendance including:

  • Neuromuscular Specialist - Perry Shieh, MD
  • Pediatric Cadiologist - Nancy Halnon, MD
  • Pediatric Genetist - Stanley Nelson, MD
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon - Anthony Scaduto, MD
  • Adult Endocrinologist - Vijaya Surampudi MD, MS
  • Adult Pulmonologist - Ravi Aysola, MD
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon - William Oppenheim, MD
  • Nurse Coordinator - Jenna Gewirtz, BSN, RN
  • Physical Therapist - Susan Chin, PT, DPT
  • Orthotist - Keith Vinnecour, C.P.O.(E)
  • Nutritionist - Michele Kezele, RD
  • Social Worker - Hillary Zebberman, MSW

This clinic meets three times month on designated Wednesday afternoons at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Patients in this clinic will be given the opportunity to participate in clinical trials for muscular dystrophy and other neuormuscular disorders as well as research that is coordinated through the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (CDMD) at UCLA. Patients that are interested in clinical trials may look to see the list of neuromuscular clinical trials offered by UCLA. 

To schedule an appointment in this clinic, please call 310-825-7266 or email Jenna Gewirtz, the nurse coordinator.

Adult Muscular Dystrophy Clinic:
This clinic is sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The adult muscular clinic meets twice a month on designated Wednesday afternoons at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Patients in this clinic will be given the opportunity to participate in clinical trials for Muscular Dystrophy. Patients that are interested in clinical trials may look to see the list of neuromuscular clinical trials offered by UCLA.
To schedule an appointment in this clinic, please call 310-825-7266 or email Jenna Gewirtz, the nurse coordinator.


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ALS Clinic

ALS Clinic:
Clinic is for new patients only: Every second and fourth Thursday mornings.
Multi-specialty clinic for return patients every first, third and fifth Thursdays (full day).
Clinic contact: 310-794-1195
Clinic director: Martina Wiedau, MD
Neurologist: Payam Soltanzadeh, MD
Emeritus neurologist: Michael Graves, MD
Clinic coordinators: Jacqui Parker and Yvette Johnson
Speech pathologist: Nancy Sedat
Occupational therapist: Sung Yu
Physical therapist: Sue Vereb
Respiratory therapist: Diana Guth
Social worker: Hillary Zebberman


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Schedule an appointment

  • To schedule an appointment or consultation, please call 310-825-7266.
  • To schedule an appointment for electrodiagnostic testing or muscle/nerve biopsy, please call 310-825-2937.
  • To schedule an appointment for the pediatric or adult muscular dystrophy clinic, please call 310-825-7266 or email Jenna Gewirtz, the nurse coordinator.
  • To schedule an appointment for the ALS clinic, please call: 310-794-1195.

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Clinical trials

Below is a partial list of UCLA Neurology’s ongoing trials in neuromuscular diseases
Click the link to ClinicalTrials.gov for the most up-to-date information

ALS
ACTHAR Treatment Trial in ALS
Biomarker Study in ALS

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Clinical Trials.gov

For additional information, please visit the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA website.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Phase 3 Study of nusinersen in Infantile-onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Sponsored by IONIS/Biogen, Inc. – extension study ongoing
Phase 3 study of nusinersen in type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Sponsored by IONIS/Biogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – extension study ongoing
Phase 2 study of nusinersen in patients with spinal muscular atrophy who are not eligible to participate in other nusinersen studies, Sponsored by Biogen/IONIS – extension study ongoing
Phase 2 study of CK-2127107 (a troponin activator) In Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Sponsored by Cytokinetics – study ongoing
Phase 1, Intrathecal Gene Therapy (AAV9-SMN) study for Type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Sponsored by Avexis – soon to start
Phase 3, Intravenous Gene Therapy (AAV9-SMN) study for Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Sponsored by Avexis – soon to start

GNE myopathy
Phase 2 Study of Sialic Acid-Extended Release in Patients with GNE Myopathy or Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy” Sponsored by Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical – extension study ongoing

Mitochondrial Myopathy
Phase 2 study of RTA 408 In Mitochondrial Myopathy Sponsored by Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – study ongoing

LEMS
Expanded Access Program for 3,4-Diaminopyridine Phosphate in Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome and Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome Sponsored by Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. – study ongoing
Phase 3 Follow-Up Study of 3,4 Diaminopyridine Phosphate in Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, Sponsored by Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – study ongoing
Phase 3 study of 3,4-Diaminopyridine Phosphate Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes Sponsored by Catalyst – study ongoing

Myotubular Myopathy
Pre-phase 1, Natural History study of X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy, Sponsored by Audentes Therapeutics - study ongoing
Phase 1/2, Gene Therapy (AAV8-MTM) in X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM) Sponsored by Audentes Therapeutics – soon to start

FSHD
Phase 2 study of ACE-083 (anti-myostatin) in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Sponsored by Acceleron – soon to start

Pompe Disease
Phase 3 of neoGAA (GZ402666) vs. lumizyme enzyme replacement in treatment-naïve patients with late-onset Pompe disease Sponsored by Sanofi – soon to start

UCLA is part of the NeuroNEXT network that is sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Perry Shieh and Michael Graves participate in a number of clinical trials that are sponsored by NIH, industry, and non-profit organizations. Currently active clinical trials include trials for:

  • Late Onset Pompe Disease (sponsored by BioMarin)
  • Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (sponsored by Ultragenyx)
  • Periodic Paralysis (HYP-HOP, NIH Sponsored)
  • Steroid trial for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (FOR-DMD, NIH Sponsored)
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy Biomarker (sponsored by NIH through NeuroNEXT)

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Director

Melissa Spencer, PhD
Melissa Spencer, PhD

 

Treating physicians

Stanley F. Nelson, MD
Stanley F. Nelson, MD
Perry Shieh, MD, PhD
Perry Shieh, MD, PhD
Payam Soltanzadeh, MD
Payam Soltanzadeh, MD
Martina Wiedau-Pazos
Martina Wiedau, MD
Francy Yi-Hsuan Shu, MD
Francy Yi-Hsuan Shu, MD

 

Emeritus faculty

Michael Graves, MD
Michael Graves, MD

 

Faculty at affiliated sites

Cedars Sinai Hospital
Robert H. Baloh, MD, PhD
Robert H. Baloh, MD
West Los Angeles VA
Nasheed Jamal, MD
Nasheed I. Jamal, MD

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