Neuromuscular Program

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Care Center and Cure SMA Care Center

Our MDA/Cure SMA care center cares for patients throughout New Mexico and bordering regions. We work closely with the MDA and Cure SMA chapters to provide quality care and services for people living with neuromuscular disorders such as:

• Muscular dystrophies
  • Duchenne (DMD), Becker, OPMD, Limb-Girdle, Myotonic dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral
  • Congenital and other muscular dystrophies
• Motor Neuron Diseases
• ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
  • Hereditary neuropathies
    • Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)
  • Inflammatory myopathies
  • Myasthenia gravis

For a complete list, visit: https://www.mda.org/disease/list

We have a transitional program to prepare pediatric patients for adult life with a neuromuscular condition as well as navigating healthcare as an adult.

We have complex treatment programs including:

• Gene therapies for SMA and DMD
• Exon skipping infusions for DMD
• Enzyme replacement infusions for Pompe
• Infusions for the treatment of SOD1ALS

ALS Clinic

UNM Health’s ALS clinic is sponsored both by the ALS New Mexico, the ALS Association and the MDA. We work closely with both organizations, which allows us to hold multidisciplinary clinics. Patients come from all over the Southwest to be treated for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and other motor neuron diseases, such as Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS).

Our team includes neurologists, a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, dietitian, respiratory therapist, nurse coordinator, a medical assistant, clinic nurse, and social worker. For more information you may contact either the local ALS NM chapter or the  MDA chapter.

Electromyography Lab

Doctors are board certified in neuromuscular neurology with extensive EMG experience. They use state-of-the-art equipment for nerve conduction studies and EMG tests. These technologies give patients precise diagnoses of peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction and muscle diseases.

Neuropathology Lab

We have the capability of sending muscle biopsies for basic stains in house and have a contact with leading labs in the nation for complicated analysis and further evaluation.