Metabolism Program
About us
The Metabolism Program at Children’s Hospital Boston provides multidisciplinary support to individuals with metabolic disorders. A nutritionist, nurse practitioner, genetic counselor, psychologist, social worker, and team of dedicated physicians work together to develop care plans that meet the medical and emotional needs of each child as well as the family’s need for support and information.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis for metabolic disorders is based on a comprehensive review of medical, developmental, and family history, physical evaluation, as well as specific biochemical testing. To avoid delays, most of the lab tests are done on-site in the Children's Biochemical Diagnostic Laboratory
Metabolic disorders can often be a challenge to diagnose since physical signs and symptoms of disease may not be present at birth. Newborn Screening is a testing procedure that was developed to identify these “hard to detect” metabolic disorders in newborns. Visit our Newborn Screening tab to read more about this diagnostic process for metabolic disease.
Treatment
Our comprehensive treatment focuses on all aspects of metabolic diseases, including: genetic testing,, diagnostic and carrier testing, medical management, developmental outcome, dietary management, and supporting patient and family needs.
The key factors in our approach to treatment include:
- Expert advice and treatment from a group of physicians trained in metabolism and genetics, many of whom are well-recognized experts in the field.
- Our team's close communication with families to schedule visits and blood tests. We also communicate closely with the primary care physicians to help establish a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PC-MH).Our social worker provides financial counseling and psychosocial support. We offer social support programs and collaborate with other metabolic centers throughout the region to ensure that all patients can meet others with their same disorder and learn to live as independently as possible with their medical condition. These include the summer camp and teen and young adult conference. We also offer the PKU School, teaching to allow individuals to take control of their own treatments, and other programs for self-management.
- Our nutritionists work closely with the patient and family to develop a proper nutrition treatment plan based on their specific diagnosis. For many of the disorders, nutrition is the primary mode of therapy.
- We provide ongoing developmental evaluation and neuropsychological testing for the patient with metabolic diagnosis. Psychotherapy and family counseling are also available to families who are interested.
- We assist in Transition to Adult Health Care.
- Women who have a metabolic disorder and who are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy are seen in our program, and consultation is offered to their obstetrician and medical home.
- Through our program, patients have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research studies. For example, we are serving as the New England Center for a multicenter study in the US whose aim is to determine whether a new medication CarbaGlu® will enhance the treatment of hyperammonemia in patients with urea cycle enzyme defects methylmalonic acidemia and propionic acidemia.
We believe that all children with metabolic disorders deserve to feel empowered and be able to reach goals. Our dedicated focus on a pediatric population, along with our access to resources throughout the hospital, allows us to provide the highest quality treatment to children.
