Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) has launched a multidisciplinary Lupus Clinic, allowing patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to see multiple specialists in a single visit to speed up diagnosis and treatment.
The clinic brings together experts across rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology, neurology and haematology, alongside pharmacy and psychological support.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women between the ages of 15 and 45 and can affect multiple organs, including the joints, skin, kidneys, brain and cardiovascular system.
According to the World Lupus Federation, around 90% of people living with lupus are women. A 2023 study estimated that around 16,500 people in the UAE are living with the condition.
At SSMC alone, more than 1,120 patients with SLE were seen and treated in 2025, with trends indicating an increase compared with the previous year.
Simplifying the Patient Journey
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr Mumtaz Khan, Consultant and Chair of the Rheumatology Division at SSMC, said the new clinic was established to address the “fragmented journey” many lupus patients previously faced.
“Patients used to navigate multiple referrals and appointments across rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology, neurology, haematology and other specialties, sometimes over weeks or months,” Dr Khan said.
He added that the complex patient journey can delay diagnosis, treatment decisions and access to coordinated care.
The new clinic brings specialists together in a single visit to provide a comprehensive assessment and agree on a unified treatment plan.
"This approach is designed to simplify the patient journey, support earlier diagnosis and intervention and provide more coordinated and personalised long-term care," he added.
Dr Khan said: “What distinguishes SSMC’s Lupus Clinic is its single-visit multidisciplinary model, designed specifically around the complex, multi-organ nature of lupus.”
The model brings relevant specialists together in one visit to agree on a coordinated treatment plan and other support services.
“For women who are planning a family or are pregnant, we also bring together rheumatology, obstetrics and haematology to provide coordinated support throughout pregnancy,” he added.
Dr Khan said the clinic is expected to make the patient journey simpler, faster and more coordinated.
“This approach helps reduce fragmentation in the patient journey, support faster and more informed clinical decisions and provide more coordinated and personalised long-term care,” he said. Earlier diagnosis and intervention can also “help reduce the risk of long-term organ damage and disease progression.”
