Earlier this year, the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was invited to join the LAM Foundation Clinic and Research Network. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a rare lung disease that affects women almost exclusively. LAM is characterized by an abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells, especially in the lungs, lymphatic system and kidneys. Abnormal growth of these cells can lead to loss of lung function, accumulation of lymph rich fluid in the chest and abdomen, and growth of benign tumors in the kidneys.
The LAM Foundation Clinic and Research Network consists of clinics and care teams strategically located in hospitals or medical centers around the world in order to improve the care and treatment of all women with LAM. Led by Dr. Stacey-Ann Brown, assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, the clinic joined the network in January after a review process by the Foundation’s LAM Clinic Committee.
