Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is more commonly known as Lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakes its own healthy tissues as foreign and attacks them. A major characteristic of SLE are autoantibodies, which target components of cell nuclei, such as DNA. These self antigens are universally present throughout our body.

SLE is a main topic of research in the department of Rheumatology of the Leiden University Medical Centre. The department is headed by prof. dr. Tom Huizinga and there is a close collaboration within the LUMC with the department of Nephrology, department of Dermatology, and department of Radiology. This collaboration involves multidisciplinary care for SLE patients, such as the clinical care for neuropsychiatric SLE (NP-SLE), the shared care for Lupus, ANCA-vasculitis, and complement-mediated diseases (LuVaCs), skin manifestations of SLE and also involves collaborative research projects.

SLE is a main topic of research in the department of Rheumatology of the Leiden University Medical Centre. The department is headed by prof. dr. Tom Huizinga and there is a close collaboration within the LUMC with the department of Nephrology, department of Dermatology, and department of Radiology. This collaboration involves multidisciplinary care for SLE patients, such as the clinical care for neuropsychiatric SLE (NP-SLE), the shared care for Lupus, ANCA-vasculitis, and complement-mediated diseases (LuVaCs), skin manifestations of SLE and also involves collaborative research projects.

Within our SLE research we focus on the pathogenesis of SLE in the group of dr. J Suurmond and on the diagnosis and management of neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE (prof. dr. T.W.J. Huizinga and dr. G.M. Steup – Beekman.

 

Principal investigators

  • prof.dr. T.W.J. Huizinga
  • dr. G.M. Steup – Beekman
  • Mw. dr. J. Suurmond