MUSCLE DISEASES CLINIC

OUTPATIENT CLINIC FOR ACQUIRED AND HEREDITARY MUSCLE DISEASES -  CLINICAL SERVICES

    The goal of the outpatient clinic for acquired and hereditary muscle diseases is the diagnosis and treatment of muscle disorders. Actually more than 1000 patients with various muscle diseases are followed in our clinic.

    Myopathies are a heterogeneous group of diseases presenting with symptoms of muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, asymptomatic elevation of creatine kinase (CK) levels, blepharoptosis, opthalmoparesis and sometimes with manifestations from other organs than skeletal muscle (cardiopulmonary etc.). Since they are rare and complex diseases patients’ follow-up is performed by neurologists specialized in the field of neuromuscular disorders. Our goal is to achieve a final genetic diagnosis, to treat multisystem complications and provide novel innovative therapies.

    The clinical service is multidisciplinary with a comprehensive assessment including:

• Clinical assessment by the consultant neurologist/mycologist
• Neurophysiological assessment (electromyography/ electroneurography) in the Department of Electrophysiology of our center
• Arrangement of muscle biopsy that is performed in our Myopathology Laboratory
• Specialized tests (i.e. ischaemic forearm test)
• Muscle MRI
• Arrangement of DNA analysis and genetic counselling by a neuromuscular specialist clinical geneticist
• Muscle assessment by an a expert in rare neuromuscular disorders in collaboration with the School of Physical Education and Sport Science
• Respiratory assessment with forced vital capacity (FVC) measurement, sitting and lying
• Cardiac assessment by a cardiologist specialized in neuromuscular disorders

Patients with hereditary neuromuscular diseases with specific therapies (i.e. Pompe disease, spinal muscular atrophy) and patients treated with immunosuppressive therapies (i.e. dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathies) are hospitalized in the specialized ward for neuromuscular diseases of the 1^st Clinic of Neurology.

Consultant Neurologists:

 George Papadimas, Neurologist expert in rare neuromuscular disorders

 Constantinos Papadopoulos, Neurologist expert in rare neuromuscular disorders

Fellow:

 Sophia Xirou, MD, MSc, PhD, Neurologist

Clinical Secretary

(+30) 210 7251315