Dedicated to the care of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the new Stanford Lupus Clinic provides comprehensive, integrated care by two leading experts in immunology and rheumatology, along with a team of pecialists who understand the complex nature of this multi-symptom disease.

Lupus patients typically present with chronic and relapsing episodes of inflammation of and damage to the joints, tendons, and other connective tissues and organs including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, kidneys and skin. "Because lupus can affect so many different parts of the body, there is a real need for comprehensive,
coordinated care," says Laura Tarter, MD, Director of the Stanford Lupus Clinic, who together with fellow rheumatologist Paul J. Utz, MD, and two nephrologists—Neiha Aurora, MD, and Richard Lafayette, MD—will see patients in Clinic. "We are using a multidisciplinary model of care to offer patients the opportunity to see multiple physicians in one visit."

Patients who come to the Stanford Lupus Clinic will see their rheumatologist at each visit, in addition to other specialists as needed, including nephrologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, dermatologists and OB/GYN physicians—either in the Lupus Clinic or within the Stanford system. Patients also gain access to numerous clinical studies, and can enroll in the Autoimmune Registry and Repository to advance the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.

"Patients with severe symptoms can be difficult to manage and many primary care physicians would prefer to have their lupus patients cared for by specialists," says Tarter. "We would like to take those patients on and help co-manage their care in close partnership with their community physicians."

To refer to the Stanford Lupus Clinic, call 650-723-6961 or fax a referral to 650-320-9443. New patients can be seen within two weeks.