Lupus

Expert Care for Lupus Patients

The UCLA Lupus Program is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to meeting the specific needs of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Patients with suspected or diagnosed lupus, their families, and their doctors can all benefit from our program.

Our mission is:

• To provide timely, comprehensive and multidisciplinary state-of-the-art care for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with suspected or established lupus.
• To participate and collaborate in research studies to advance the care of patients with lupus.
• To raise awareness of lupus by advancing the education of trainees, physicians, and allied health professionals in the early recognition and evaluation of patients with suspected lupus.

Some of the advantages our UCLA Lupus Program offers patients:

• Access to UCLA specialists who are very well-versed with the diagnosis and treatment of lupus and its possible complications.
• A team of doctors from UCLA that includes all the specialists needed to manage each patient’s form of lupus.
• Coordinated care from physicians who work together to develop the best individualized treatment plan for each patient and their needs.
• Access to cutting-edge diagnostic testing and treatments.
• The ability to participate in research studies to advance the understanding of lupus.

Please note, the UCLA Lupus Program only evaluates adult patients (those 18 years and older.) For pediatric patients, please visit UCLA Pediatric Rheumatology.

What is Lupus?

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease – a condition in which the body can mistake its own healthy tissues as foreign invaders.
•  Lupus can affect many different organs in the body. Symptoms include fatigue, fevers, joint pains, rashes, hair loss, kidney failure, anemia and neurological syndromes.
•  Although Lupus can occur at any age and in both men and women, 90% of people diagnosed with lupus are female, and most are diagnosed during childbearing age.
•  Patients of Latin American, African, Asian, and Native American descent are at increased risk for developing Lupus and may also be at risk for more severe disease.
•  Although the exact cause of Lupus is unknown, research indicates that a combination of genetic, environmental and possibly hormonal factors are involved.
•  Although there is no cure for lupus, effective treatment can greatly reduce symptoms and help maintain normal body functions.
•  Treatment options include medications to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. Antimalarial drugs also may improve symptoms and prevent major flare-ups.
•  Many people with lupus find that lifestyle changes – such as getting sufficient sleep, adopting a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
•  In addition to caring for patients, our providers conduct clinical trials to evaluate potential new treatments for lupus. (Hyperlink to Lupus Clinical Trials)
• Our Lupus Center is dedicated to identifying and addressing racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in lupus care and outcomes. This commitment can be seen through our clinical work, our research, and our community-based interventions and educational programs.

Our Expert Team

The UCLA Lupus Program team is made up of specialists from different fields of medicine who work together to provide comprehensive care to patients with lupus. As lupus can affect different parts of the body, this multidisciplinary approach allows us to craft individual treatment plans for each patient. The team can also refer to other UCLA specialists when necessary.

The UCLA Lupus Program only evaluates adult patients (those 18 years and older). For pediatric patients, please visit UCLA Pediatric Rheumatology.