The Division of Rheumatology and Immunology is known for its programs in patient care, teaching and research, especially for its contributions to the pathogenesis and the clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, the prototype of human autoimmune diseases. Drs. William Stohl and David Horwitz have taken advantage of the extraordinary clinical resources of the LAC+USC Medical Center to develop novel biologic agents for the treatment of lupus. Dr. Stohl is directing two phase 2 clinical trials to study the effectiveness of the B lymphocyte growth factor antagonist in SLE and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Horwitz has patented a novel approach to harness the patients own immune system for the treatment of SLE and other autoimmune diseases. Drs. J. Dixon Gray and Song Guo Zheng, in his group, are inducing immature immune cells to become immune policemen called regulatory T cells. Clinical studies are being designed to learn if the treated blood cells from a lupus patient can be used as a treatment to induce disease remission. This technology has been licensed by a large pharmaceutical company and represents a partnership between the Keck School of Medicine and private industry to develop novel biologic agents for clinical use.

The Division provides broad clinical activities for Los Angeles County and USC University Hospital. Dr. Francisco Quismorio, Jr. directs a major lupus clinic. Drs. Daniel Arkfeld and Glenn Ehresmann continue to have a strong interest in promising new agents to treat patients with this crippling form of arthritis and work with their orthopedic colleagues to provide comprehensive care for patients with diverse forms of arthritis.

Using the exceptional clinical resources of the LAC+USC Medical Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and USC University Hospital, the Division provides outstanding training for medical students, post-doctoral medical residents and fellows. The rheumatology fellowship emphasizes patient care in a broad range of rheumatic diseases, presentation of clinical conferences, and understanding the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This Division’s many accomplishments during the past year reflect the skills and creativity of a dedicated faculty.