Lupus Treatment

Lupus patients are under attack by their own immune systems.

Patients with lupus – also known as systemic lupus erythematosus – have immune systems that attack healthy tissue, leading to illness and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the heart, and lungs.

The disease attacks women nine times more than men and minorities three times more than whites.

And one of the world’s leading Lupus treatment centers is located at Grady.  When it opened in 2003, the Grady Lupus Clinic was the first dedicated lupus center in the region. Since then, its work with clinical trials and other research has literally helped to redefine how lupus is treated around the world. Today, Grady Lupus Clinic has a global reputation for quality of care and cutting-edge research.

But what most distinguishes the lupus team is its focus on the needs of patients and their families.

Grady offers the best, most experienced lupus care in the region.

One of only five population-based lupus registries funded by the Centers for Disease Control. Grady actively follows more than 700 lupus patients, making it one of the nation’s largest lupus clinics.

Since its opening, the clinic has participated and led more clinical trials focused on lupus medications than any other institution in Georgia. We are participating in cutting-edge trials that are not available anywhere else in the region, which means our patients have access to the best current and emerging science.

And the clinic is internationally recognized for its outcomes and health disparities research.

Our lupus experts were attracted to Grady by the fact that we offer the most complete medical care in Atlanta and deliver it through multidisciplinary teams. That means the rheumatologists who work with lupus patients – all faculty members at Emory University School of Medicine – work side-by-side with specialists from other disciplines.

And, because Grady has one of the region’s most active research programs, we provide access to some of medicine’s most promising emerging therapies.

Grady offers one more advantage. Every patient we treat benefits from the comprehensive medical services we’ve created for Atlanta over more than 125 years. That means we have the expertise to handle whatever illness, condition, or trauma you’ve experienced and whatever complications may arise.

We tackle all of lupus’ symptoms, which depend on what areas of the body is being affected by lupus. The most common ones include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Skin rash
• Extreme sun sensitivity
• Weight loss
• Chest pain
• Nose, mouth, or throat soars
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Poor circulation
• Hair loss

Make an Appointment

Call (404) 616-1000, Monday-Friday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to schedule your appointment.

If you are an existing Grady patient and have a MyChart account, visit MyChart to request your appointment online.

The Grady Lupus Clinic is primarily an outpatient specialty that treats non-hospitalized patients.  It does offer:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs, which can help to relieve joint pain and swelling
• Anti-malarial drugs, which are used to treat skin rashes, mouth sores, and joint pain. They can also reduce the risk of blood clots. Corticosteroids, which curb the immune system response that can damage the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, or blood vessels in lupus patients.
• Immunosuppressive drugs, which can curb the immune system, bring symptoms under control, and help prevent long-term organ damage
• Anticoagulants, which are used to thin the blood and prevent clots
• Monoclonal antibodies like belimumab (Benlysta), are delivered intravenously or subcutaneously to target specific immune cells. It may help reduce the need for steroid treatment

As one of the nation’s elite teaching hospitals, our rheumatologists are continually involved in clinical trials aimed at finding better, more effective ways to care for patients suffering from lupus. Research conducted at Grady is helping to redefine the way doctors around the world treat the disease. This commitment to research means that Grady offers the best standard care – and the best emerging care. The benefit to patients is clear: They have access to treatment options unavailable at most other institutions.