Lupus Care at University of Colorado Hospital
Why Choose Treatment for Lupus at University of Colorado Hospital?
University of Colorado Hospital provides comprehensive care to individuals with lupus through the expertise of their internationally known specialists in rheumatology, dermatology, nephrology, neurology, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, endocrinology, hematology, orthopedics, obstetrics and psychology. These specialists work together in one site and have access to the most advanced technology to provide integrated management of the complex problems experienced by people with lupus. In addition, these specialized physicians are actively studying the causes of lupus, testing new treatments, and identifying better methods to diagnose and monitor this condition through their active research programs.
The University of Colorado is one of nine sites selected nationally by the National Institutes of Health to serve as an Autoimmunity Center of Excellence. The goal of these centers is to encourage and enable collaborative research across scientific disciplines, across medical specialties, and between basic and clinical scientists in order to accelerate the search for methods to treat or prevent autoimmune diseases like lupus.
The University of Colorado is also a site for a National Institutes of Health Autoimmunity Prevention Center, which funds innovative research projects with the overall goal of prevention of autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The long-term goal of this program is to develop the knowledge base necessary to design interventions to prevent autoimmune disease that could be administered efficiently and safely to individuals at risk or to the general population, including children.
What is Lupus?
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus for short) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and can damage joints, skin, blood vessels and internal organs. In autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues. Lupus can cause the following types of symptoms:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Fever
- Skin rashes
- Extreme fatigue
- Seizures
Lupus affects people of all ages and races, but it affects women, usually during their childbearing years, more often than men. Lupus can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe and that can vary greatly among different individuals, depending on which organs or tissues are involved. Severe complications of lupus include:
- Marked decreases in blood cell counts
- Kidney damage or failure
- Heart failure
- Strokes or seizures
- Blood clots
- Loss of pregnancy (miscarriage)
- Inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body
The cause of lupus is unknown.
Featured Lupus Doctors
Dr. Susan Boackle conducts research on the genetic differences that influence the development of lupus. She is also looking for markers of lupus disease activity in the blood and urine that may allow better diagnosis and monitoring of this disease.
Dr. Chris Striebich heads the University of Colorado Rheumatology Clinical Trials program. His work focuses on the testing of new treatments for lupus, including “biologic” therapies that target specific pathways that may influence disease development.
Dr. Sterling West, named one of Denver ’s Top Doctors by 5280 Magazine, directs the fellowship program at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. His primary research focus is in the pathophysiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric lupus.
Dr. Liron Caplan is a recipient of the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Clinical Investigator Fellowship Award (2005). His research focus is in the area of outcomes in rheumatic diseases.
Dr. Kevin Deane is investigating the role of genetics and environmental exposures on the development of rheumatoid arthritis-related autoimmunity. He has a special interest in the development of pre-clinical prediction models for autoimmune disease.
Dr. William Arend is a renowned rheumatologist who discovered a natural anti-inflammatory molecule now used to treat arthritis.
Dr. V. Michael Holers is a world-renowned researcher on the role of complement in autoimmune disease. His work has also recently focused on the identification of risk factors for the development of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Dr. Walter Briney specializes in the treatment of general rheumatic disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and osteoporosis.
Lupus Research
Current research involves identifying genes and environmental factors that may be involved in the development of lupus, so that new methods to treat or prevent lupus can be developed. Blood and urine markers that will allow better monitoring of lupus disease activity are also being actively studied. The basis for neuropsychiatric disease in lupus is being explored using imaging studies and autoantibody testing. Clinical trials include projects that investigate new biologic agents developed to treat multiple autoimmune diseases, including lupus.
Lupus Technology
The Division of Rheumatology at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine runs the Clinical Rheumatology Laboratory that specializes in the unique tests used in the diagnosis and management of lupus. In addition, researchers in the Division of Rheumatology are exploring new imaging techniques such as more sensitive CT, MRI and MRS scanning to evaluate patients without the need for surgery or other “invasive” tests.