SLE

 
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE)

 In 1902, Sequeira and Balean reported the case of a young girl with “disseminated  lupus erythematosis” whose symptoms began with “rheumatism” at the age of 16 (Sequeira and Balean, British Journal of Dermatology 14:367-379, 1902).  As her disease progressed, her urine was found to contain protein and blood; she then went on to develop kidney failure.  Since that time, therapies for systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) have been developed, but these require long-term supervision by medical teams familiar with the complexity of the disease.  At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the Rheumatology and Nephrology Divisions have collaborated to develop a specialized clinic for the care of these patients.  Emphasis is on up-to-date therapy in the out-patient setting and a multidisciplinary approach to care.