Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Program

Comprehensive Care for Children with MS and Neurological Autoimmune Diseases

The Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neurological Autoimmune Diseases Program evaluates and treats pediatric patients with central demyelinating diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica (NMO), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Optic neuritis, and transverse myelitis.

In these diseases, the myelin sheath, or protective coating around nerves, is damaged, which inhibits the ability of the nerves to pass along information that controls many bodily functions.

MS is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. For some, the disease results in minor symptoms while in others it can be debilitating. MS affects various functions of the body, but commonly impacts a child’s ability to write, speak or walk.

More than 8,000 children in the United States have multiple sclerosis. Though there is no cure for MS yet, medical science has developed strategies and treatments to help manage symptoms and slow the disease’s progression.

At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, our team of specially trained physicians and therapists are dedicated to improving your child’s health and quality of life.

From initial diagnosis and screenings to treatment, follow-up and support, we maintain a compassionate, informed and concerned approach to your child’s immediate and long-term needs.

We are one of only a few dedicated pediatric MS programs in the state of New Jersey.

Multidisciplinary Care

Our experts work in collaboration with pediatric-specific ophthalmology, physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychology, urology, nephrology, and cognitive specialists to provide cutting-edge therapies, patient and family education, and access to clinical trials.

The National MS Society notes that children with MS benefit from comprehensive care through multidisciplinary teams that include pediatric and adult MS specialists. Our clinicians work closely with our adult MS specialists in the Robert Wood Johnson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, a nationally recognized Center for Comprehensive MS Care that is directed by an internationally renowned leader in the area of MS research.

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to the best outcomes. Our specialists have particular expertise identifying and managing MS and other demyelinating diseases in children.

What are the signs and symptoms of MS in children?

Care Plans that Cover All the Bases

The Pediatric MS Program’s experts create a comprehensive care plan for each child to address education, cognition, social functioning, mental health, daily activities, and quality of life. Strong emphasis is placed on preventing further relapses by using disease-modifying medical treatments, as well as adjunct therapies, such as physical therapy.

Our specialists are particularly focused on helping children and their families feel empowered about their care and invested in their treatment, discussing goals and the variety of options available to best manage their condition.

Our nurses and other clinicians also are specially trained to engage children to talk about their mental health, including any issues with anxiety or depression. Although there is currently no cure for MS, a number of effective treatment options exist, and more are on the horizon.

Conditions We Treat

In addition to MS, our team has expertise in diagnosing and treating a variety of related demyelinating diseases, including:

• Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
  More common than MS in young children, ADEM can occur either around the time of an infection or shortly thereafter. Although it can sometimes be the first presentation of MS, ADEM is typically an isolated phenomenon that resolves entirely. It is characterized by a brief but widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.
• Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
  NMO, also known as Devic’s disease, resembles but is distinct from MS. It is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that predominantly affects the optic nerve and spinal cord.
• Optic Neuritis
  Resulting from swelling of the optic nerve, optic neuritis manifests as blurred vision and pain in the eye, as well as color desaturation (a washed-out appearance to colors).
• Transverse Myelitis
  This condition results from inflammation targeting the spinal cord and can involve a combination of motor, sensory and/or bladder problems. The inflammation interrupts communication between the nerve fibers in the spinal cord and the rest of the body, affecting sensation and nerve signaling below the site of inflammation. Our specialists also evaluate additional causes of white matter disease in the brain, as well as other immune-mediated diseases affecting the brain, such as opsoclonus-myoclonus, autoimmune encephalopathies, and autoimmune epilepsies.

This program also evaluates other causes of immune-mediated diseases affecting the brain, such as:

• Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome (OMS)
  This ia a rare disorder that affects the nervous system. Its symptoms include rapid, multi-directional eye movements (opsoclonus), quick, involuntary muscle jerks, uncoordinated movement (ataxia), irritability, and sleep disturbance.
• Seizure Disorders
  This category of diseases include autoimmune encephalopathy, encephalitis and epilepsy.
• Neuro-Rheumatological Disorders
  These include neurosarcoidosis and lupus cerebritis.

We evaluate children with uncharacterized white matter abnormalities on the brain for the presence of any of these disorders.

Research

The Pediatric MS Program is involved in research initiatives designed to improve care, investigate new therapies, and increase children’s quality of life.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (732) 235-7875.