Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), also known as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. This causes widespread inflammation and tissue damage in multiple organs such as the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, lungs and gut.
Find out more on the conditions here >
The SGH SLE programme specialises in the evaluation and care of patients with SLE and related conditions. Our goals are to provide excellent and holistic clinical care and to advance understanding on the cause of the disease and best treatment strategies for patients with SLE.
Due to the complexity and multi-organ involvement of SLE, patients are seen at subspecialty clinics where more time can be dedicated to patients who will benefit from expert care to achieve better outcomes. The SLE clinics are helmed by Rheumatologist who are actively involved in clinical or translational research. In addition, there are multi-disciplinary clinics that bring expertise from different disciplines to the patient.
SLE clinic: focus on evaluation, early diagnosis and management of complex SLE. This clinic incorporates co-morbidity review of SLE patients on an annual basis. Patients are seen by the Rheumatologist and supported by the Rheumatology nurse.
Combined lupus nephritis clinic: as lupus nephritis affects more than 50% of SLE patients, this clinic sees SLE patients for evaluation and diagnosis of lupus nephritis, and continued care and treatment of complex lupus nephritis. Patients are seen by Rheumatologist and Nephrologist.
Rheumatology obstetrics clinic: as SLE patients are more likely to suffer disease flares during pregnancy, this clinic sees patients with SLE and other autoimmune diseases for pre-pregnancy counselling, and provide obstetric care through their pregnancy. Patients are seen by the Obstetrician specialising in high-risk pregnancies, and the Rheumatologist, supported by the Obstetric nurse.
Other members of the SLE program include the Rheumatology nurses, Rheumatology pharmacists, and research coordinators who assist in the care of our patients.
SLE is a complex autoimmune disease with multi-organ involvement. The survival rates of SLE has improved over the last five decades with 10-year survival rates of more than 90%, through research discoveries. However, there is still a long way to go in understanding the disease in improving the lives of patients with SLE.
We need to identify the cause, immune mechanisms of SLE and unravel potential biomarkers in assessing disease states (e.g. flares) in patients with SLE and how we can better target treatment to bring precision medicine to patients. This means optimising the benefits of treatment whilst minimising the side effects of medication for the individual person. Research is therefore necessary to continue to discover new treatments and improve the care of patients with SLE.
We hope to make a difference in the lives of the patients through research. The clinicians and scientists have built a database to allow analysis of clinical data, as well as blood and other tissue samples from patients who have chosen to participate. The team lead and collaborate with renowned local and international academic institutions, and industry to accelerate discoveries and uncover new treatment for SLE.
Find out more on our research in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus here >
