ALS clinic offers cutting-edge care close to home

Approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder.

While there is no known cure, physicians like Greenwich Hospital’s Kunal Desai, MD, are committed to providing the best care for ALS patients and are optimistic about the future of treatment.

“In the history of the disease, we are seeing the most advanced effort toward finding a cure,” said Dr. Desai, assistant professor of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine (YSM). “Will we be able to find one? I don’t know. Will we be able to find medicines that substantially change the outcome for our patients? I think so.”

Dr. Desai sees 10 to 12 patients a month on average. His team includes William Zaccagnino, RN; Danielle Livecchi, speech-language pathologist; Michael Lerner, MD, otolaryngologist and assistant professor of Surgery (Otolaryngology), YSM; Eric Leibert, MD, pulmonologist; and several physical therapists. The team develops multidisciplinary care models specially designed to meet ALS patients’ needs. The clinic offers many of the same resources as larger ALS centers, except clinical trials.

Clinic patients receive one of two U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications: Rilutek and Radicava. The former is believed to reduce damage to motor neurons by decreasing glutamate levels; the latter reduces oxidative stress, which can damage motor neurons.

Clinic patient Kenneth Miller has been thrilled with his care. “I’m very happy with Dr. Desai and the rest of the team,” he said. “They were right on it from the first moment I saw them.”

According to the ALS Association, a diagnosis takes nine to 12 months on average after symptoms appear. Symptoms may include twitching and cramping of muscles, especially in the hands and feet, loss of motor control in the hands and arms, lasting severe tiredness, slurred speech and difficulty chewing or swallowing.

The Greenwich clinic focuses on faster diagnoses and local patient care. “We provide care in a smaller setting, so it’s less taxing for our patients,” Dr. Desai said.

The Yale Medicine ALS Clinic, at 15 Valley Drive, is recognized by ALS United Connecticut.