UCLA Rheumatology is ranked in the Top 10 across the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Patients are seen at Westwood and Santa Monica locations, as well as at our community offices in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Downtown Los Angeles, Encino, Porter Ranch, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Valencia, and Westlake Village. The Division of Rheumatology welcomes referrals of patients for consultative, diagnostic, and therapeutic services for both outpatient and inpatient care. Our rheumatologists provide consultation, diagnosis, and treatment for simple to complex rheumatic diseases, including general rheumatology and arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, myositis, gout, and osteoarthritis.

The UCLA Division of Rheumatology has an active research and clinical practice. Major areas of research include systemic lupus erythematosus, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, interstitial lung disease, gout, vasculitis, and Sjogren's syndrome. We are currently participating in more than 20 clinical trials to test cutting edge therapies in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, myositis, and psoriatic arthritis. Special thanks to those of you who have participated in these clinical trials, helping us bring new, better treatments to our community, nation, and world.

For further information, please refer to the Rheumatology Research Website.

To name a few research achievements from recent years, we have discovered:

  1. New genes and gene regions that predispose to lupus, myositis, or rheumatoid arthritis; we are dedicated to understanding how they work.
  2. A novel set of biomarkers that predict accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
  3. The hormone leptin (from fat cells) promotes autoimmunity.
  4. Ultrasound studies of joints identify people with hidden joint inflammation.
  5. A specialized cell in the skin can be manipulated to protect mice from severe lupus dermatitis.
  6. Novel methods for visualizing gout and pseduogout crystals.

Education is one of our main focuses in the Division of Rheumatology. UCLA rheumatologists have chaired the preparation of national guidelines for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many rheumatic diseases. This work has local, national, and international impact: our colleagues in the media have been disseminating these educational products world-wide. The guidelines have been published in the official journal of the American College of Rheumatology. We continue to attract top graduates from medical schools and internal medicine programs to train with us as fellows. All of the Internal Medicine residents also study with us - our sincere thanks to all of  you who have worked with them. Several of us are preparing new editions of textbooks in rheumatic diseases.

In summary, we continue to thrive in our areas of research, education, and clinical practice. Again, we give you special thanks for your support. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit our website, giving.ucla.edu/rheumatology.

Thank you for supporting UCLA Rheumatology by allowing us to assist in your health care.

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