Internal medicine and rare diseases. Child-adult transition

Abstract

Most rare diseases (RD) are genetically based, occur with very different symptoms and may cause a different degree of disability, especially inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). The clinical transition process of a patient with a RD reaching adulthood aims to ensure uninterrupted, coordinated and psychologically-appropriate health care through multidisciplinary expert units (EU). The specialist in Internal Medicine has a central role, along with Nutrition and Dietetics, a specialized ECM laboratory, and other specialists (Neurology, Clinical Genetics, Pharmacy, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics, Psychiatry, Nursing, Social Work, with the support of pediatricians experienced in ECM). EU should organize the overall care, develop clinical guidelines for diagnosis, follow-up and treatment, adapt Pharmacy services, create patient registers, establish relationships with patients’ associations, develop a scientific training program, establish international partnerships, facilitate collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Industry and have its own research activity.