About lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. It mainly affects women of childbearing age and runs a course of flares and remissions. Kidney involvement (lupus nephritis) is one of the most serious complications.
Symptoms
Common symptoms are fatigue, joint pain and swelling, skin rashes (including the facial “butterfly” rash), sensitivity to sunlight, mouth ulcers, fever and hair loss. Foamy urine or swelling of the legs can signal kidney involvement.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis combines symptoms with blood tests such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA and complement levels, urine tests and, when kidneys are involved, a kidney biopsy. Specialists use classification criteria and disease-activity scores to guide treatment.
Treatment in China
- Hydroxychloroquine for almost all patients, plus the lowest effective dose of steroids.
- Immunosuppressants such as mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus or azathioprine.
- Biologic drugs, including belimumab and telitacicept.
- Multidisciplinary care with nephrology, dermatology and obstetrics, including planning for pregnancy.
Why patients choose China
PUMCH’s Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, headed by Zeng Xiaofeng, coordinates the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research group (CSTAR), a registry of more than 30,000 patients, and led the 2020 Chinese guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of lupus. PUMCH also ranks first in China for rare diseases.
Top hospitals in China for Rheumatology
Fudan 2023 reputation score · bars are relative to the leader in this specialty.
- 1 Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 11.6
- 2 Peking University People’s Hospital Beijing 8.5
- 3 Renji Hospital Shanghai 8.4
- 4 Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Nanjing 5.2
- 5 West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 4.2
- 6 Ruijin Hospital Shanghai 4.0
- 7 Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) Beijing 2.9
- 8 Peking University First Hospital Beijing 2.5
- 9 First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin 2.3
- 10 Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University Xi’an 1.5
Nominated hospitals (25)
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou
- China-Japan Friendship HospitalBeijing
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
- First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang
- Beijing Hospital (National Center of Gerontology)Beijing
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou
- Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai
- First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou
- Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital)Hefei
- Jiangsu Province Hospital (First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University)Nanjing
- First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou
- Southwest Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou
- Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuan
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an
- Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
- People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous RegionUrumqi
- Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai
- Tianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjin
- First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityKunming
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen UniversityXiamen
- Guanghua Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western MedicineShanghai
Hospitals to consider
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Allergy
- #1 Critical care medicine
Renji Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Gastroenterology
- #3 Rheumatology
Peking University People’s Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Hematology
- #2 Rheumatology
Specialists
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Autoimmune and connective-tissue diseases
- Clinical immunology
Frequently asked questions
Can lupus be managed remotely with a Chinese specialist?
A second opinion can review your diagnosis, disease activity and treatment plan, including kidney biopsy results. Day-to-day care continues with your local doctor, with in-person visits to China when a complex problem needs it.
Which newer lupus drugs are used in China?
Besides hydroxychloroquine, steroids and immunosuppressants, China uses biologic drugs such as belimumab and telitacicept, a drug developed and approved in China for lupus.