Neuroimmunology Program
Contact the Neuroimmunology Program
What is the Neuroimmunology Program?
The experts in Seattle Children’s Neuroimmunology Program treat children with and other conditions that affect the brain and . These neuroimmune conditions include multiple sclerosis (MS) and . In autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks part of the body as though it were an invader, like a virus.
Our Neuroimmunology team includes a and who serve patients throughout Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We see babies, children, teens and young adults in weekly clinics at Seattle Children’s hospital campus.
What’s special about Seattle Children’s Neuroimmunology Program?
Our Neuroimmunology Program is the only one of its kind in our 4-state region. We are experts in diagnosing and treating babies, children, teens and young adults with demyelinating disease and other autoimmune disorders that affect the brain. Together with the University of Washington, we have been named a Center of Excellence by the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA).
Our expertise and state-of-the-art technology and testing help us diagnose your child with precision. A correct diagnosis means your child can get started on the best and most effective therapies. Finding early signs of problems helps limit disability and improve quality of life.
To help your child get all their care in one place, on the same day, our program partners with:
- Infusion services to provide medicines to reduce inflammation, relieve symptoms, prevent relapse and slow the progress of disease
- Radiology for like that help assess your child’s brain and spinal cord
- Neuropsychology to evaluate how the condition affects their thinking, learning, emotions and behavior
These team visits save your family travel time and allow treatment to start sooner.
Besides the nervous system, many neuroimmune conditions affect other parts of the body and may impact your child’s whole life. As needed, we refer your child to other Seattle Children’s specialists in rehabilitation medicine, ophthalmology, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language services.
Our goal is to give your child the best chance of a long and healthy life. We care for your child from birth to age 21. When the time is right, we help your family transition to experts in adult healthcare needs.
Conditions We Treat
We treat patients with autoimmune conditions that affect how their nervous system forms and works. Some neuroimmune conditions are called demyelinating disorders because the immune system damages the protective covering of nerves (myelin).
Services We Offer
Our neuroimmunologist and neuropsychologist carefully assess your child and plan the best treatment for them. At follow-up visits, we check your child’s health, assess how well medicines are working and take steps to avoid relapses. We have weekly clinics at our hospital campus in Seattle. We also offer telehealth (virtual) visits.
We refer your child to specialized clinics so they get complete, coordinated care. Our aim is to help your child live as full a life as possible.
Accurate diagnosis is the first step to effective treatment. Our team will take a full medical history, examine your child carefully and order tests needed to understand their condition.
Our diagnostic services include:
- to get high-quality pictures that let us assess your child’s brain and spinal cord. A radiologist who specializes in the brain and nervous system () analyzes the imaging studies.
- to check your child’s .
- Blood tests to check for signs of an problem.
- for some patients to find if changes in are causing the disorder.
- for some patients to check the brain’s electrical activity.
Patients with demyelinating disease and other autoimmune conditions that affect the brain may have changes in how their brain develops and works. Most patients see our neuropsychologist to evaluate how their condition affects their thinking, learning, emotions and behavior. Evaluation includes an interview and measures of your child’s thinking skills, mood and behavior.
Based on the results, we provide expert opinions and recommend treatment options to help your child at school, at home and in the community.
We offer a full range of treatments. We prescribe and monitor immunotherapies such as:
- given by mouth or
- such as dimethyl fumarate, ocrelizumab, fingolimod, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine
- Biologic or biosimilar drugs (PDF) (Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese) such as and ocrelizumab
As part of a world-class academic pediatric hospital, we have access to specialists in many fields. As needed, we coordinate with other Seattle Children’s specialists, such as:
- Physical therapists (PTs) to improve your child’s strength, balance and coordination. If needed, PTs will teach your child to use equipment like crutches or a wheelchair.
- Occupational therapists (OTs) to help your child build strength and coordination to do daily tasks like dressing, bathing, eating, playing and school activities.
- Speech and language pathologists (SLPs) to check how well your child can speak, understand, read, write and swallow. SLPs help your child communicate and swallow better.
- Ophthalmologists to assess and treat eye and vision problems, which happen in neuroimmune conditions that affect the optic nerves that connect the eyes to the brain.
- Rehabilitation medicine specialists to evaluate your child’s needs and abilities and design a treatment plan that fits your family.
Scheduling a Visit With the Neuroimmunology Program
- If you’d like an appointment, ask your healthcare provider to refer you to Seattle Children’s Neuroimmunology Program. We are part of Seattle Children’s Neurosciences Center.
- If you have a referral, contact us at 206-987-2078 for an appointment.
- See how to schedule an appointment at Seattle Children’s.
- If you already have an appointment, learn more about how to prepare.
- Learn about resources such as useful links, videos and recommended reading for you and your family.
Providers, see how to refer a patient for Neurosciences care.
Who’s on the Neuroimmunology team?
Providers in our Neuroimmunology Program include:
Contact Us
- If you’d like an appointment, ask your healthcare provider to refer you to Seattle Children’s Neuroimmunology Program. Our program is part of Seattle Children’s Neurosciences Center.
- If you have a referral, call 206-987-2078 for an appointment.
- Providers, see how to refer a patient for Neurosciences care.
Telemedicine at Seattle Children’s
You may be offered a telehealth (virtual) appointment. Learn more about telehealth visits.
Paying for Care
Learn about paying for care at Seattle Children’s, including insurance coverage, billing and financial assistance.