Information about Multidisciplinary service for OPMD patients

 

Oculo-pharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare genetic disease that manifests itself in drooping eyelids, swallowing difficulties of fluids, solid food and saliva, and weakness of the skeletal muscles. The symptoms of the disease gradually worsen with the progressing risk of penetration of food and drinks into the respiratory tract and weakening of coughing strength that might be life-
threatening.

 

Multisystem involvement in OPMD patients requires multidisciplinary management that includes neurologists with expertise in muscular dystrophy, clinical geneticist, laryngologists with expertise in laryngology, speech therapists and nutrition specialists with expertise in swallowing disorders, ophthalmologists with expertise in blepharon-plastic surgery, oral medicine specialists with
expertise in salivary gland dysfunction , specialists in respiratory rehabilitation, physiotherapy and rehabilitation psychology.

 

The multidisciplinary service for patients with OPMD at the Sheba Medical Center prov des the necessary management in all the above-mentioned medical specialties and is recognized by the Ministry of Health as the national specialized medical service for treatment of OPMD . This recognition legalizes the right of every patient with diagnosed or suspected OPMD to be referred and treated in the multidisciplinary service at Sheba and entitles co-payment this service by health insurers of these patients.

 

For scheduling appointments please send your request and referral letter by email to: OPMD@sheba.health.gov.il