Learning from 15 years of multidisciplinary lupus clinic

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. For the past 15 years I have run a multidisciplinary monthly lupus clinic with consultant colleagues in Rheumatology and Nephrology with close working relationships to the Oral Medicine Department and Fetomaternal Medicine unit in our local maternity hospital. 80% of SLE patients will have cutaneous involvement at some point during the course of their disease and I will present the common and uncommon cutaneous presentations of SLE. A combined multidisciplinary lupus clinic allows for shared decision making with colleagues and results in fewer hospital visits for SLE patients. A dedicated clinic allows for streamlined investigation protocols. Treatment of SLE depends on which are the predominant organs involved in the disease and usually require a combination of several medications, collaboration with colleagues allows for the best combination to be decided on in this complex disease.