We specializes in diseases affecting muscles and nerves including:
ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) - Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
Neuropathies
Electromyography
Nerve and muscle ultrasound
Skin biopsies
Botulinum toxin injections
We use botulinum toxin injections to treat:
Therapeutic nerve blocks
Therapeutic nerve blocks can be used to treat:
Joint injections
Non-surgical treatments to help reduce inflammation of the joint and increase movement.
Neuromuscular Disorders | Neurology
706-721-2681
The Augusta University ALS Clinic was started in 2004 as a half day clinic each month.
It has now grown to a bimonthly full day clinic. Our clinic is ALSA certified clinic
which means that we underwent a rigorous certification process. The clinic is a multidisciplinary
clinic so that our ALS patient can receive all needed services at a single visit.
It is staffed by 2 dedicated ALS specialists, physical therapist, occupational therapist,
speech and language pathologists, respiratory therapist, a dietician and representatives
from the ALS Association. In addition, we have equipment vendors in the clinic so
that patients can get needed equipment during the clinic.
Patients suspected of ALS are seen in our neuromuscular clinic by one of our ALS specialists. During the visit, we can do a diagnostic EMG so the diagnosis can be made at the time of the visit. We guarantee that we see all patients suspected of ALS within 1 month.
We have an active clinical research program with 2 full time research associates. Over the years we have participated in numerous ALS Clinical research studies. Currently we are engaged in 3 clinical research studies.
Anelixis Study—monoclonal antibody to CD40LG
COMBAT-ALS—neuroprotective agent (ibudilast)
Apellis Study—C3 inhibitor
We have participated in several Basic research projects looking at the etiology of ALS. In the past we looked at the association of LRP4/Agrin antibodies in ALS and SGPG antibodies in ALS. We have just recruited a Basic Researcher, Dr Eric Vitriol who start work in February. He will be looking at the Actin cytoskeleton in ALS. We hope that projects such as this will lead to understanding the cause of ALS which hopefully lead to better treatment for our patients.
Our multi-disciplinary clinic is designed to help our ALS patients throughout all stages of their disease from the initial diagnosis to Hospice care. Our patients have access of all the most recent treatments which have been shown to improve outcome. Our patients have access to clinical trials and basic research projects which hopefully, will one day, lead to a cure.
WATCH VIDEOS FROM THE ALS CONFERENCE - ALS RESEARCH
AU has an active program in Myasthenia Gravis. We can fully evaluate patients seen in our clinic for neuromuscular transmission disorders including Myasthenia Gravis and Myasthenic Syndrome. We can do repetitive nerve stimulation and single fiber EMG studies.
We offer all modalities of therapy including, plasma exchange, IVIG, eculizumab as
well as standard immunosuppressant therapy. We offer antibody testing and have recently
discovered LRP4 and Agrin antibodies which are linked to myasthenia gravis in patients
that are negative to standard testing for ACHR and MuSK antibodies.
We are actively engaged in clinical research in Myasthenia Gravis. Currently we have 4 clinical studies in Myasthenia Gravis.
Raise Study—This is a monoclonal antibody against C5
MG0003—This is a monoclonal antibody against the FCRN receptor
Takeda Study—This is a monoclonal antibody against CD38
Alexion Registry Study—This is an observational study for patients getting eculizumab
We have recently complete a NIH Study designed to study the clinical characteristics of patient with LRP4 and Agrin antibodies in patients with Double negative MG.
Myasthenia Gravis Research in the News
We are actively doing clinical studies in chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy and lower back pain.
We specialize in difficult to treat movement disorders requiring botulinum toxin therapy. Our physicians have over 30 years of clinical experience in this area. We have been involved in clinical research studies involving botulinum toxin including the PREMPT that led to the approval of Botox for migraine headaches.
