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WEGENER'S GRANULOMATOSIS
Dr. Lebovics has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of
patients with Wegener’s Granulomatosis having followed over 200 patients for 9
years while chief of Otolaryngology Head and neck Surgery at the National
Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland. Therapy involved cutting edge
treatments in a protocol based clinical environment. Specifically, treatments of
the sinuses, tear ducts and laryngeal/tracheal reconstruction were all studied
in WG patients.
Today in New York City, Dr. Lebovics has been hosting the local WG support
group in his office and has been building a specialized practice that meets the
unique needs of the WG patients in consultation with some of the best
rheumatology doctors in the area. Patients from as far away as Florida, Boston,
West Virginia and Pittsburgh travel regularly for care related to their WG.
Endoscopic repairs and treatments of the trachea are routinely performed while a
new 20 minute procedure for repairing tear ducts has been employed using an
argon laser. This tear duct repair is done with local anesthesia and the
patients go home an hour or two later.
Many patients with WG have significant collapse of the nose, the so called
saddle nose deformity. Dr. Lebovics has successfully reconstructed patients
employing various grafts from the patients body with excellent success. WG is a
devastating disease that takes huge long term tolls both physically and
emotionally. The ability to reconstruct the nose/face adds a much needed
redemption to the disease process. Dr. Lebovics has written articles on the
treatment of WG and has lectured nationally and internationally on the subject.
SJOGREN'S SYNDROME
Dr. Lebovics has been appointed to the medical advisory board of the Sjogren’s
Syndrome Foundation Inc. in 1998. He is helping to establish practice guidelines
for the treatment of Sjogren’s Syndrome from an otolaryngology perspective in
conjunction with his colleagues in rheumatology and dentistry. Salivary gland
biopsies and the treatment of dry mouth and mucous membranes are done in the
office.
SARCOIDOSIS
Sarcoidosis is an immunologically based disease of unknown etiology. It
frequently causes destruction in the nose and nasal septum and infection in the
paranasal sinuses. Often this leads to surgery of the nose and sinuses. The neck
and even the trachea may be involved with Sarcoidosis. Dr. Lebovics has treated
tracheal lesions in sarcoid with a similar method perfected in treating patients
with vasculitis. Treatments are coordinated with the treating internist or
pediatrician in order to maximize the benefits of office or surgical
interventions.
IMMUNE DEFICIENCIES
Dr. Lebovics has a unique experience of treating various immune deficiencies
as they affect the head and neck. This experience gleaned while chief of
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the National Institutes of Health in
Bethesda Maryland involved various disease processes including CVHG (Common
Variable Hypogammaglobulinemia) CGD (Chronic Granulomatous Disease) as well as
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). These disorders were studied in a
rigorous cutting edge research environment with therapies that were later
released to the general population after obtaining FDA approval. Close
collaboration with the treating immunologist or infectious disease specialist is
critical to obtaining a satisfactory outcome for these infections of the nose
sinuses throat and neck.
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