Immunology and Rheumatology Program
- Specialized expertise in treating rheumatic diseases, inflammatory conditions, and autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and gout. Go to Conditions Treated
- Personalized treatment options using the latest breakthroughs in medications to treat autoimmune diseases. Go to Treatments
- Clinical trials that give eligible patients access to promising therapies available only at a handful of medical centers. Go to Clinical Trials
- Skilled medical team with advanced training in immunology and rheumatology who work together to deliver effective treatments and comprehensive care. Go to Your Care Team
- Ease of access to care, with convenient locations, virtual visits, and more ways to get treatments and follow-up care. Go to Connecting to Care
Inflammatory arthritis causes swelling and pain in joints. Crystalline arthritis causes crystal deposits to form in the joints and soft tissues. Our expertise includes treatments for:
- Gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), also known as pseudogout
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Spondyloarthropathy, including psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis
These disorders can cause a wide range of problems in many areas throughout the body, including the skin, joints, blood, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and brain. Systemic autoimmune diseases we treat include:
- Inflammatory myopathy, such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis)
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
Vasculitis includes a group of immune diseases that cause inflammation in blood vessels. Your body attacks its own blood vessels by mistake, leading to a wide range of health problems. Types of vasculitis include:
- Aortitis
- Behcet's disease
- Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis
- Giant cell arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis)
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Takayasu’s arteritis
Our team is also skilled at treating all types of anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, including:
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly called Churg-Strauss syndrome
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly called Wegener's
- Microscopic polyangiitis
There are dozens of immune disorders that lead to a wide range of health conditions. They include:
- Adult-onset Still’s disease
- Familial Mediterranean fever
- Granulomatous mastitis
- IgG4-related disease
- Sarcoidosis
Our Cancer Supportive Rheumatology Program is at the forefront of research to treat immune-related side effects from cancer treatment.
Various medications can reduce inflammation, regulate your immune system, or relieve pain. The treatment choice depends on the specific disease and symptoms you are experiencing.
There are side effects and risks involved with many of these medications. Your doctor will discuss them with you so you can decide on a treatment plan together.
Your doctor may recommend:
- Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs): These medications work by targeting specific immune system proteins called cytokines. These proteins control inflammation throughout your body. Biologics prevent your immune system from mistakenly attacking healthy cells by blocking specific cytokines. Many different types of biologics work on various cytokines. Biologic DMARDS are given by injection or infusion.
- Conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDS): These medications suppress or alter your whole immune system. Doctors commonly use csDMARDS to treat RA and other autoimmune disorders.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- Steroids: These medications reduce inflammation throughout your body by suppressing your whole immune system.
- Targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs): Like bDMARDs, these drugs suppress specific cells or proteins in the immune system, but they are taken orally.
In some cases, your care team may also recommend injecting medications directly into the areas to be treated or removing fluid from joints. Our team includes experts in rheumatology ultrasound who can assess and treat many diseases precisely using ultrasound guidance.
Your care team may recommend a physical therapy program to relieve pain and improve mobility and flexibility. They may also suggest lifestyle changes to control symptoms and enhance your overall well-being. You may benefit from a customized exercise program, special diet, different sleep schedule, or additional sun protection, depending on the condition.
If you have arthritis, your doctor may recommend surgery to relieve arthritis symptoms like joint pain. We partner with skilled orthopaedic surgeons in the Stanford Health Care Arthritis and Joint Replacement Service. These specialists are at the forefront of the latest joint replacement techniques. Together, we work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment plan and deliver effective treatments.
Specialized Rheumatology Clinics
At the Stanford Health Care Autoimmune Skin Disease Clinic, we have experience treating various autoimmune diseases affecting the skin and internal organs. Our team collaborates with other specialists to provide personalized treatment plans and access to clinical trials.
We specialize in caring for patients with IgG4-related disease while addressing the many ways in which it affects the body. We offer ongoing clinical trials at our center. Our team is also at the forefront of research to better understand these diseases.
Our team uses a holistic approach to manage and treat rheumatic diseases. In addition to conventional rheumatologic care, we focus on lifestyle changes, supplements, and mind-body medicine. We strive to identify the root causes of symptoms and develop a personalized therapeutic plan for every patient.
Our Lupus Clinic provides the highest level of care for patients with all types of lupus, including the most severe and complex. We partner with other specialists to deliver comprehensive treatment plans.
The Stanford Health Care Multidisciplinary Sarcoidosis Program is recognized as a worldwide leader in caring for people with this disease. We collaborate with specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, rheumatology, endocrinology, hepatology, nephrology, and imaging to deliver exceptional care.
We provide customized care for rheumatic and immune conditions that were present before cancer treatment, as well as those that resulted from treatment. Our rheumatologists work with oncologists to address immune-related adverse events (irAEs), plan treatments, manage side effects, and prevent complications. Learn more about our Cancer Supportive Rheumatology Program.
We use ultrasound to diagnose, monitor, and treat a range of rheumatological conditions. Stanford Health Care rheumatologists have specialized training in evaluating and managing conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, gout, Sjogren’s syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, and vasculitis.
Our team works closely with other specialists to address complex, multisystem disorders caused by blood vessel inflammation. We also participate in research to better understand these rare disorders.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
Specialists at Stanford Medicine work with each other and teams nationwide to spark groundbreaking research. As a leading academic and research institution, we focus on the most advanced techniques and the latest breakthroughs in care. We are committed to bringing you clinical trials that test new and better ways to diagnose, treat, and manage autoimmune conditions and rheumatic diseases. Participating in a trial may give you access to the latest therapies before they are widely available.
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Our doctors work together to focus on your needs from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up care. We continually strive to improve your experience and maximize your treatment success. At weekly review meetings, experts from multiple specialties review cases that require more complex recommendations.
Your Doctors and Providers
Rheumatologists
A rheumatologist specializes in diagnosing and treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, many of which cause inflammation in the joints (arthritis). They use the latest treatments, including medications and physical therapy.
View All {0} RheumatologistsAdvanced Practice Provider
Our skilled physician assistants and nurse practitioners specialize in diagnosing and treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. They see patients independently and occasionally alongside your provider. Advanced practice providers can give you a thorough exam, write prescriptions, and help prevent or treat issues.
View All {0} Advanced Practice Provider DoctorsExtended Care Team
Nurses and Nurse Coordinators
Nurses and nurse coordinators are registered nurses (RNs) who organize your care with your doctor. They guide you from your first contact with our clinic through follow-up care. RNs can also assist you in finding counseling, financial help, and other support services.
Care Coordinators
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical assistant: Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take your vital signs before your appointment.
- Patient care coordinator: Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your lab results. They are your first line of contact before you see your provider and will guide you through every step.
- Patient access representative: Patient access representatives can answer your questions about health insurance coverage, help you apply for health insurance, and refer you to our financial counselors.
Research Coordinators
Research coordinators help find candidates for possible participation in clinical research trials. Stanford Medicine investigators work to better understand, diagnose, and treat immune disorders and rheumatic diseases through clinical trials.
Support Services
Part of your immunology and rheumatology care involves managing your emotional health. We offer support services for you and your loved ones. Our team addresses your overall well-being and helps you find the resources you need to feel better.
We strive to make access to care as simple as possible. User-friendly virtual health tools and video appointments help you stay connected with your care team from home. We accept most insurance plans and offer discounted transportation, short-stay options, and international travel and translation services. We make it easy for you to get the care you deserve. Our team guides you through each step, so you can make decisions that are right for you.
At Stanford Health Care, treatment for autoimmune disorders and rheumatic disease is accessible and convenient. Our scheduling staff can help coordinate your appointments. If needed, we’ll make sure you can see multiple providers during a single trip.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
- Send referrals online
- Place radiology and lab orders
- View referral status
- Access medical records
To make an appointment with an immunology and rheumatology specialist, call 650-723-6961.