SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LGMD-diagnosis.org, a free diagnostic program for individuals suffering from muscular dystrophy, was expanded to allow physicians to apply on behalf of their patients. The program allows physicians to obtain a definitive and specific diagnosis for all patients who qualify regardless of insurance coverage. To apply, physicians must evaluate the patient’s likelihood of having a limb girdle muscular dystrophy or another muscular dystrophy with similar symptoms using ALDA (Automated LGMD Diagnostic Assistant), an online LGMD prediction algorithm.
“LGMD-diagnosis.org was launched in September as a program that allowed patients with undiagnosed muscle diseases to apply for free diagnostic sequencing without needing a physician to order tests. The program has been a big success and many physicians contacted us asking to apply for the program directly. We are excited to launch the physician portal so that even more individuals can obtain a definitive genetic diagnosis,” said Plavi Mittal, President of the Jain Foundation.
The program is sponsored by a consortium of LGMD family foundations who work on rare muscle diseases caused by mutations in a large number of different genes. By pooling their resources, the foundations will identify a significant number of patients that can be helped by the efforts of each foundation.
ABOUT LGMD-diagnosis.org
LGMD-diagnosis.org is a diagnostic program for individuals without a genetic explanation for their muscle weakness. It offers both an online quiz for individuals and a new physician application to determine eligibility for free genetic sequencing. Eligible individuals who consent to participate send in a saliva sample for analysis and receive a genetic report that they can discuss with their physician for genetic counseling and proper disease management. www.lgmd-diagnosis.org
ABOUT THE SPONSORS
The program is sponsored by the Cecil B Day Family, Inc (LGMD2B), Coalition to Cure Calpain 3 (LGMD2A), Jain Foundation (LGMD2B), Kurt + Peter Foundation (LGMD2C), LGMD2D Foundation, LGMD2I Fund, and McColl-Lockwood Laboratory (LGMD2I). www.lgmd-diagnosis.org/about-the-sponsors
ABOUT ALDA
ALDA is an online diagnostic tool for physicians that includes all LGMD subtypes identified through mid-2013, as well as a number of other muscle diseases whose symptoms mimic those of LGMDs. ALDA is freely available at www.jain-foundation.org/alda/ in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, and Ukrainian.
