UT Physicians is a comprehensive provider of medical genetics care for children and adults, offering clinical evaluations, diagnostic testing, treatments, and long-term management for a wide range of genetic conditions that can impact health at any stage of life.

The medical genetics program provides answers about inherited, developmental, and metabolic disorders, offers genetic testing for personalized treatment, and delivers family planning guidance. Our highly specialized team brings together geneticists, cardiologists, genetic counselors, genomic scientists, and bioinformaticians to provide leading-edge care tailored to every patient’s unique needs, empowering individuals and their families with valuable knowledge to make informed health decisions.

What we treat and evaluate

Our multidisciplinary team provides clinical evaluation and personalized care for a wide range of genetic conditions and specialty areas, including:

• General genetics: concerns for any type of rare inherited condition, including patients with a known history or diagnosis of autism, intellectual disability, poor growth and short stature, seizures, congenital malformations, skeletal dysplasias, rickets, disorders of sexual development, and more.

• Inborn errors of metabolism: a group of disorders arising from the body’s inability to convert various food sources into energy. Many of these conditions are detected on newborn screening, and we are a referral site for abnormal newborn screenings. Many of these conditions are managed in collaboration with metabolic dieticians to provide specialized diets.

• Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC): a genetic disorder that causes growths to form in organs like the brain, skin, lungs, heart, kidneys, and eyes. These growths usually are not cancerous, but they can cause other health problems, such as skin changes, seizures, delays in learning or thinking, behavior and attention challenges, breathing problems, and dental issues.

• Glycogen storage diseases: a group of inherited conditions where the body has trouble storing or using sugar for energy. This can affect the liver, muscles, or heart, causing a range of health issues, such as hypoglycemia, muscle weakness, liver damage, and growth problems.

• Phenylketonuria (PKU): a rare condition where the body can’t break down a part of protein called phenylalanine, which is found in many foods that have protein, like meat, eggs, and milk. If too much phenylalanine builds up in the body and isn’t treated, it can cause problems with brain development.

• Lysosomal storage diseases: a group of rare conditions where the body can’t break down certain substances, which build up and cause problems in cells and organs, leading to several potential health issues, such as organ enlargement, bone and joint problems, developmental delays, seizures, breathing difficulties, facial differences, and hearing or vision loss.

• Cancer genetics: inherited changes in genes that can increase a person’s risk of getting cancer. These changes can run in families and lead to breast, ovarian, colon, and other cancers. Our team helps identify individuals who might be at risk and offers personalized care plans that may include screening, prevention strategies, and family testing.

• Neurogenetics: brain and nerve conditions linked to inherited genetic changes, such as epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, movement disorders, and memory problems. These conditions can affect thinking, coordination, balance, muscle control, and overall development.

• Vascular genetics: Some genetic conditions can affect the strength, structure, or function of blood vessels, putting individuals at risk for serious heart or vascular problems. The UT Physicians medical genetics team provides expert care for inherited disorders that impact the arteries and connective tissues, helping patients manage risks and prevent complications. Some of the vascular conditions treated include:

• Marfan syndrome: a genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissue, which supports the heart, skin, bones, blood vessels, eyes, and other organs. It can lead to heart problems and vision issues, as well as cause tall stature and long limbs.
  • Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a rare inherited disorder that weakens connective tissue, making blood vessels, intestines, and organs more fragile. This can lead to serious complications, such as dangerous tears or ruptures in arteries and organs, and is caused by changes in a gene involved in building strong tissues.

• Loeys-Dietz syndrome: a genetic condition that affects the growth and structure of blood vessels, bones, and skin. It can cause arteries to twist or grow too large, increasing the risk of aneurysms, tears in blood vessels, heart valve problems, scoliosis, and pregnancy-related complications.
  • Familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (FTAAD): a genetic condition that affects the aorta, which is the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, causing it to weaken, stretch, or tear. An inherited disorder that often affects multiple family members, it can be life-threatening if not monitored and treated, as individuals with this condition may not have symptoms until serious complications occur.

• Arterial aneurysms and dissections: conditions where the arteries, or blood vessels, weaken, bulge, or tear. These issues can occur in any artery in the body, such as those in the brain, limbs, or abdomen. If not detected and treated early, these conditions can be life-threatening.

How we help

Our approach to treating and managing these conditions includes a multidisciplinary team that works together to understand and treat genetic conditions. When you come to us, we listen to your concerns, review your medical and family history, and may perform genetic testing to help uncover the cause of symptoms. A personalized care plan is then created for each individual and their specific needs. These plans include preventive screenings, lifestyle recommendations, genetic testing and counseling, family planning, and cancer risk assessment to help patients and their families make informed decisions.

Other treatments include medications to manage symptoms or prevent complications, surgical interventions when necessary, and regular imaging or monitoring to catch changes early. For some conditions, special diets are key to maintaining health, while others may benefit from hormone therapy, enzyme replacement, or other targeted treatments. Some genetic conditions require specialized, lifelong care, which we support through dedicated programs that connect patients with expert care teams and the most current research, treatments, and clinical trials.

Equally important, to address the needs of the whole person, we provide education and offer emotional support, helping patients and families understand their diagnosis and what it means for their health, as well as assisting them in navigating the next steps. Whether we’re helping patients manage a chronic condition, plan for the future, or get clear answers, we ensure patients receive comprehensive, connected care across their lifespan.

Scheduling

If you or your doctor would like to schedule an appointment with the medical genetics team, please call 713-500-5760 to be connected directly with our genetics scheduling team, who can help guide your referral to the right clinic.