Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system causes inflammation in the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, and other internal organs. Yale Medicine’s lupus program provides unparalleled access to rheumatologists who are experts in the care and treatment of patients with lupus, as well as the most up-to-date information to promote patients’ well-being. Our rheumatologists coordinate care with experts in a wide range of other specialties to provide comprehensive, multifaceted evaluation and treatment plans. Lupus researchers are also an important part of our program, with the goal of advancing the treatment and understanding of this complex disease. Our program is directed by Fotios Koumpouras, MD, who has conducted extensive research on lupus, serves as principal investigator for several active clinical trials in SLE at Yale, and developed and is principal investigator for the Yale Rheumatology BioRepository. Many patients of Dr. Koumpouras and other Yale Medicine rheumatologists travel long distances for their expertise and understanding of lupus, and with telemedicine, they can continue their treatment at Yale even if they live far away. With sites on the Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) Saint Raphael Campus and the YNHH Interventional Immunology Center at North Haven, the Yale Lupus Program provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients, and education about the disease for patients and their family members. The program provides multidisciplinary evaluations by rheumatologists and experts in a wide range of specialties, including dermatology, nephrology, maternal-fetal medicine, neurology, pulmonary medicine, and cardiology. The program also features: A state-of-the art Infusion Center for administration of the most up-to-date therapies. A Lupus Wellness Program . Lupus can be a complicated condition to understand, and education is the first step in empowering people to be an active part of their treatment decisions and improve the quality of their life. A Transition Program for young adults with lupus that works toward each person’s individual goals, emphasizing education and shared decision-making. One of the unique aspects of our lupus program is a combined Rheumatology–Dermatology Clinic —the first of its kind in Connecticut—where our renowned experts in those two fields work together to provide diagnosis, second opinions, and treatment planning. Rashes or skin lesions may be among the first symptoms of lupus, and dermatologists are often the first doctors to see signs of the disease. Overall, 66% of people with lupus will develop some form of skin disease. By seeing patients together, our experts in dermatology and rheumatology combine resources for a more integrated and holistic approach to this complex illness. In another interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Koumpouras is working with Yale Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences to study and

We are internationally recognized for developing an immunologic treatment for advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), or photopheresis, is one of the safest and most effective treatments available for this type of cancer. Our experienced team of physicians and nurses administers photopheresis daily on an outpatient basis. We treat more than 1,000 patients each year. The procedure was first developed by Yale's Richard Edelson, MD.He and his team are pioneers and leaders in this technique, and continually conduct research to further improve ECP to help treat cancer and other disorders. During ECP, the patient’s blood is treated with a photosensitizing agent and exposed to specific wavelengths of light to eliminate cancerous cells from the blood and activate the immune system’s T-cells. With immune cells primed to fight off cancer, blood is then returned to the body. ECP is also effective for treating a number of inflammatory diseases.

Autoimmune encephalitis is a disease in which immune cells target particular areas of the brain to cause neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. While the symptoms vary, the experience of isolation is often uniform as individuals search for providers familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The Yale Autoimmune Encephalitis Program brings together a team skilled in neuroimmunology, psychiatry, molecular biology, and allied specialties to provide patient-centered, cutting-edge treatment. Located within the Yale Interventional Neuroimmunology Center, the program offers immunotherapies and symptomatic treatments, and partners with physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians to assist in the rehabilitation that is often required following autoimmune encephalitis. In addition, the program connects patients with a robust network of scientists to advance the treatment, diagnosis, and biologic understanding of the disease. We believe that care for individuals with autoimmune encephalitis begins at symptom onset and continues through the chronic phases of the disease. Early in the course of the disease, patients may require more extensive immunotherapy. However, as the disease progresses, a patient’s needs may shift to managing more long-standing neurologic and psychiatric manifestations. At the Yale Autoimmune Encephalitis Program, we guide our patients through illness from the initial diagnosis and treatment to long-term management. As the field evolves, we are committed to advancing our understanding of the disease and improving treatments for our patients. We work closely with a network of scientists and physicians to fuel discovery and advance therapeutics. Led by Tova Gardin, MD, MPP, a neuroimmunologist experienced in neurologic and psychiatric disease, the Autoimmune Encephalitis Program brings together clinicians, scientists, and allied specialties to provide holistic, person-centered care and to drive forward groundbreaking discoveries that serve our patients.