New UT Clinic Offers “One Stop” Care
for Tuberous Sclerosis Patients of All Ages
HOUSTON – (Sept. 26, 2006)–Experts at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, along with partners at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, next month will open the region’s first clinic dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).
Hope Northrup, M.D., professor and director of medical genetics in the Department of Pediatrics at the UT Medical School, said the clinic will provide comprehensive care to patients while expanding opportunities for tuberous sclerosis research.
Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs and skin. It commonly affects the central nervous system, and in some cases leads to serious medical problems. It is estimated that one in 6,000 babies will be diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis.
One special aspect of the clinic, which opens Oct. 2, is that it will serve both children and adults. It will be one of only 20 tuberous sclerosis clinics nationwide.
Northrup, whose interest in tuberous sclerosis began in 1987, spearheaded the effort to get the center up and running. “The clinic is vital to the Houston area for several reasons. First, with our growing population of between four and five million in the greater Houston area, there are 1,000 affected individuals living here. The closest tuberous sclerosis clinic to Houston is in Dallas at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and patients are only followed at that clinic until the age of 18,” Northrup said.
Houston’s tuberous sclerosis clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of patients and their family members. Because this disorder can affect several areas of the body, eight specialists in the fields of genetics, neurology, neurosurgery, epilepsy, dermatology, nephrology, cardiology and ophthalmology will be part of the clinic. Patients will be able to book appointments with any of those specialists.
MaryJane Mudd’s daughter was first diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis when she was just a year old. “You can spend a lot time bringing your child to one specialist or another, every day of the year,” Mudd said. “This clinic will make the journey of treating your child a whole lot easier.”
Northrup, a leading expert in the field of tuberous sclerosis with 30 published scientific articles, said the clinic’s long-term goals include not only providing care to patients, but also participating in clinical drug trials and the National TSC Natural History study. The national study will follow tuberous sclerosis patients over their lifetimes to help doctors better understand the disease and devise treatment strategies.
The UT-Houston tuberous sclerosis clinic will be located in Suite 1010 of The University of Texas Professional Building, 6410 Fannin St. It will be open from 9 a.m. to noon the first Monday of each month.
For more information on tuberous sclerosis or the clinic, call 713-500-7032.
Media Contact: Melissa McDonald
Media Hotline: 713-500-3030