Lupus Program
About the Lupus Program
The Lupus Program at CHOP provides dedicated, team-based pediatric care within CHOP's Division of Rheumatology. Our rheumatologists work closely with other subspecialty providers at CHOP who have a shared commitment to support these medically fragile children and teens.
Through the Lupus Program, your child will have access to a dedicated team, including a social worker to provide support services as needed. These professionals can help your family overcome challenges related to your child's medical care and better navigate the healthcare system.
Who we treat
We treat children and teens with:
- Lupus
- Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)
- Lupus-overlap syndromes
For children with these conditions that are also affecting their kidneys, our program offers a dedicated Lupus Integrated Nephritis Clinic (LINC) that serves as a “one-stop shop" for these patients.
Why choose our Lupus Program
At CHOP's Lupus Program, we're exploring innovative ways to better manage lupus and lupus-like diseases more safely and effectively for young patients. With the support of technology at CHOP, we are tracking the disease path for individual patients with lupus, including:
- What areas of the body are affected
- What symptoms are evident
- Which treatments appear most effective in the short- and long-term
- Any trends that develop involving multiple patients.
Our goal is to deliver care that is both high-quality and personalized to each patient. In addition, we also partner with patient and parent representatives, non-profit foundations, and external experts to identify the best ways to meet the needs of patients and families.
Our research
We are closely monitoring important measures of care delivery and outcomes at CHOP. For example, we have increased safety for our patients by providing vaccinations against pneumonia consistently to all patients with lupus. In addition, we now know more than 80% of our lupus patients have disease activity scores low enough to prevent long-term organ damage – great news for most patients.
Research is key to advancing how we care for children and teens with lupus. Our Lupus Program has integrated lupus research into our clinical practice to reduce the burden on both patients and providers. We offer several opportunities for patients to participate in ongoing research studies, including clinical trials. Ask your child's provider if any studies or trials are appropriate for your child.
About your child's appointment with the Lupus Program
Before your child's appointment with the Lupus Program, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire in the MyCHOP app. Our office will send you information about how to log in, set up your account and what information is needed from you.
In addition, we will need a copy of your child’s medical and immunization records. Please contact your child's doctor and ask them to fax this information to our office. If you or your child's doctor have any questions, please contact us at 215-590-2547.