Immunology and Rheumatology Program
- Specialized expertiseÌýin treating autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, scleroderma, Behçet's disease, vasculitis, IgG4-related disease, and many others.ÌýGo to Conditions Treated
- Personalized treatment options using the latest breakthroughs in medications to treat autoimmune diseases.ÌýGo to Treatments
- Clinical trialsÌýthat give eligible patients access to promising therapies available at only a few medical centers, including novel CAR T-cell therapies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.ÌýGo to Clinical Trials
- Skilled medical team with advanced training in immunology and rheumatology who work together to deliver effective treatments and comprehensive care. Go to Your Care Team
- Ease of access to care, with convenient locations, virtual visits, and more ways to get treatments and follow-up care. Go to Connecting to Care
Inflammatory and crystalline arthritis cause swelling and pain in joints and surrounding soft tissue. Experts in rheumatology ultrasound often help diagnose and manage these conditions in partnership with your rheumatologist. Our expertise includes treatments for:Ìý
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Spondyloarthropathy, includingÌýpsoriatic arthritis,Ìýankylosing spondylitis,Ìýreactive arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis
- Gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), also known as pseudogout
These disorders can cause a wide range of problems in many areas throughout the body, including the skin, joints, blood, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and brain. Systemic autoimmune diseases we treat include:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
- Inflammatory myopathy, such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis)Ìý
- Sjogren’sÌýdisease
Vasculitis includes a group of immune diseases that cause inflammation in blood vessels. Your body attacks its own blood vessels by mistake, leading to a wide range of health problems. Types of vasculitis include:
- Giant cell arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis)
- Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)
- Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)
- Behçet’s disease
- Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitisÌý
- Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
- Takayasu’s arteritisÌý
There are dozens of immune disorders that lead to a wide range of health conditions. They include:
- IgG4-related diseaseÌý
- Sarcoidosis
- Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD)
- Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)
- Granulomatous mastitis (GM)
- Relapsing polychondritis (RP)
- VEXAS syndrome
Our Cancer Supportive Rheumatology Program is at the forefront of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ to treat immune-related side effects from cancer treatment.
Various medications can reduce inflammation, regulate your immune system, or relieve pain. The treatment choice depends on the specific disease and symptoms you are experiencing.Ìý
There are side effects and risks involved with many of these medications. Your doctor will discuss them with you so you can decide on a treatment plan together.Ìý
Your doctor may recommend:
- Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs): These medications work by targeting specific immune system proteins called cytokines. These proteins control inflammation throughout your body. Biologics prevent your immune system from mistakenly attacking healthy cells by blocking specific cytokines. Many different types of biologics work on various cytokines. Biologic DMARDs are given by injection or infusion.
- Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs): These medications suppress or alter your whole immune system. ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ commonly use csDMARDs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs reduce inflammation and relieve pain.Ìý
- Steroids: These medications reduce inflammation throughout your body by suppressing your whole immune system.Ìý
- Targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs): Like bDMARDs, these drugs suppress specific cells or proteins in the immune system, but they are taken orally.
In some cases, your care team may also recommend injecting medications directly into the areas to be treated or removing fluid from joints. Our team includes experts in rheumatology ultrasound who can assess and treat many diseases precisely using ultrasound guidance.
Your care team may recommend a physical therapy program to relieve pain and improve mobility and flexibility. They may also suggest lifestyle changes to control symptoms and enhance your overall well-being. You may benefit from a customized exercise program, special diet, different sleep schedule, or additional sun protection, depending on the condition.Ìý
If you have arthritis, your doctor may recommend surgery to relieve arthritis symptoms like joint pain. We partner with skilled orthopaedic surgeons in the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Arthritis and Joint Replacement Service. These specialists are at the forefront of the latest joint replacement techniques. Together, we work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment plan and deliver effective treatments.Ìý
Specialized Rheumatology Clinics
At the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Autoimmune Skin Disease Clinic, we have experience treating various autoimmune diseases affecting the skin and internal organs. Our team collaborates with other specialists to provide personalized treatment plans and access to clinical trials.
Our Autoimmune Eye Disease Clinic focuses on inflammatory eye conditions, such as noninfectious uveitis, scleritis, and other ocular inflammatory problems with or without an identifiable rheumatic disease. The clinic is integrated with ophthalmology at the Byers Eye Institute and the Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research through the Human Ocular Autoimmunity Program at Stanford—a unique program dedicated to inflammatory eye disease.
We bring together multispecialty teams to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for patients with BD. The clinic is part of the Behçet’s Disease Program (BD-PRO) at Stanford—a unique initiative that integrates expert care with education and ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ innovation. We also support community physicians and specialists by helping find solutions for their locally or nationally referred patients with BD or BD-like diseases, signs, and symptoms.
We provide customized care for rheumatic and immune conditions that were present before cancer treatment, as well as those that resulted from treatment. Our rheumatologists work with oncologists to address immune-related adverse events (irAEs), plan treatments, manage side effects, and prevent complications. Learn more about our Cancer Supportive Rheumatology Program.
We specialize in caring for patients with IgG4-related disease while addressing the many ways in which it affects the body. We offer ongoing clinical trials at our center. Our team is also at the forefront of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ to better understand this disease.
Our team uses a holistic approach to manage and treat rheumatic diseases. In addition to conventional rheumatologic care, we focus on lifestyle changes, supplements, and mind-body medicine. We strive to identify the root causes of symptoms and develop a personalized therapeutic plan for every patient.Ìý
Our Lupus Clinic provides the highest level of care for patients with all types of lupus, including the most severe and complex. We partner with other specialists to deliver comprehensive treatment plans.
The ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Multidisciplinary Sarcoidosis Program is recognized as a worldwide leader in caring for people with this disease. We collaborate with specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, rheumatology, endocrinology, hepatology, nephrology, dermatology, and imaging to deliver exceptional care.
We use ultrasound to diagnose, monitor, and treat a range of rheumatological conditions. ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ rheumatologists have specialized training and certification in evaluating and managing conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, gout, Sjögren’s syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, and vasculitis.Ìý
Our team works closely with other specialists to address complex, multisystem disorders caused by blood vessel inflammation. We also participate in ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ to better understand these rare disorders.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
Specialists at Stanford Medicine work with each other and teams nationwide to spark groundbreaking ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½. As a leading academic and ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ institution, we focus on the most advanced techniques and the latest breakthroughs in care. We are committed to bringing you clinical trials that test new and better ways to diagnose, treat, and manage autoimmune conditions and rheumatic diseases. Participating in a trial may give you access to the latest therapies before they are widely available.
Clinical trials are ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ patient, you may have access to the latest advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Our doctors work together to focus on your needs from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up care. We continually strive to improve your experience and maximize your treatment success. AtÌýweekly review meetings, experts from multiple specialties review cases that require more complex recommendations.
Your ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ and Providers
Rheumatologists
A rheumatologist specializes in diagnosing and treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, many of which cause inflammation in the joints (arthritis). They use the latest treatments, including medications and physical therapy.
View All {0} RheumatologistsExtended Care Team
Nurses and Nurse Coordinators
Nurses and nurse coordinators are registered nurses (RNs) who organize your care with your doctor. They guide you from your first contact with our clinic through follow-up care. RNs can also assist you in finding counseling, financial help, and other support services.Ìý
Care Coordinators
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical assistants: Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take your vital signs before your appointment.
- Patient care coordinators: Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your lab results. They are your first line of contact before you see your provider and will guide you through every step.
- Patient access representatives: Patient access representatives can answer your questions about health insurance coverage, help you apply for health insurance, and refer you to our financial counselors.Ìý
Research Coordinators
Research coordinators help find candidates for possible participation in clinical ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ trials and help coordinate clinical ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½. Stanford Medicine investigators work to better understand, diagnose, and treat immune disorders and rheumatic diseases through clinical trials.
Support Services
Part of your immunology and rheumatology care involves managing your emotional health. We offer support services for you and your loved ones. Our team addresses your overall well-being and helps you find the resources you need to feel better.
We strive to make access to care as simple as possible. User-friendly virtual health tools and video appointments help you stay connected with your care team from home. We accept most insurance plans and offer discounted transportation, short-stay options, and international travel and translation services. We make it easy for you to get the care you deserve. Our team guides you through each step, so you can make decisions that are right for you.
At ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, treatment for autoimmune disorders and rheumatic diseases is accessible and convenient. Our scheduling staff can help coordinate your appointments. If needed, we’ll make sure you can see multiple providers during a single trip.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ provides comprehensive services toÌýreferÌýandÌýtrack patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff.ÌýFor help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
Ìý
- Send referrals online
- Place radiology and lab orders
- View referral status
- Access medical records
To make an appointment with an immunology and rheumatology specialist, call 650-723-6961.