CHOP Selected as Center of Excellence for Rett Syndrome

The International Rett Syndrome Foundation has designated Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as one of 15 partner clinics in its Center of Excellence network.

Eric Marsh, MD, PhD Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause severe problems with language and communication skills, muscle control and coordination, and slowed growth. It almost exclusively affects girls and affects about 1 out of every 10,000 girls in the United States.

To be designated as one of these Centers of Excellence, the clinic must have a physician director with expertise in Rett syndrome care, health care services that meet the needs of patients with Rett syndrome, involvement in clinical trials, and contribute to a clinical registry to help increase the understanding of Rett syndrome.

Dr. Eric Marsh, a pediatric neurologist at CHOP who specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with Rett syndrome, discussed the condition and the importance of this distinction in an interview with KYW News Radio.