The Lupus Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is a specialized program in the Division of Rheumatology providing comprehensive care to children, adolescents and young adults with lupus and related diseases. It is the only pediatric lupus center in the Midwest.

Multidisciplinary and Personalized Care

The Lupus Center at Cincinnati Children's builds on the strengths of the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic. One of the largest in the country, the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic treats about 1,500 patients with rheumatic diseases each year.

Lupus is considered both a rheumatic disease and an autoimmune disease. At the Lupus Center, patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians specializing in rheumatic disease (rheumatologists) and other health care professionals.

This multidisciplinary team provides the full range of health care services needed for optimal treatment of lupus. Team members regularly communicate with each other to provide the best care, personalized for each patient.

Self Management and Education

In addition to providing direct medical care when needed, members of the Lupus Center health care team also encourage patients to learn about their disease and how to manage it. This focus on education and patient self-management helps patients better understand lupus, how the disease changes over time and how to adapt to these changes.

Quality Improvement

Quality improvement is part of the Lupus Center's efforts to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. All patients are closely monitored for changes in their disease, flares, responses to treatments and side effects of treatments. Close monitoring and optimal disease control decrease the risk of permanent damage from lupus and improve the quality of life of those living with lupus. We are part of PR-COIN, the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Improvement Outcomes Network.