Rheumatology & Immunology at Renji Hospital Shanghai | CMCS

China's Premier Center for Autoimmune & Rheumatic Disease

The Department of Rheumatology at Renji Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — is one of China's most distinguished and research-active rheumatology centers, with a national and international reputation for excellence in the diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, myositis, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, and rare autoimmune conditions. The department is a national key clinical specialty and one of China's leading rheumatology research centers, with landmark contributions to lupus nephritis management, biologics in rheumatic diseases, and the genomics of autoimmune conditions.

For international patients with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, myositis, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, or a rare autoimmune condition — whether seeking expert diagnosis, a second opinion, access to novel biologics or targeted therapies, or management of refractory disease — Renji Hospital's rheumatology department offers an unparalleled combination of clinical expertise, research leadership, and multidisciplinary integration. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their care journey at Renji Hospital.

About the Department

Renji Hospital's rheumatology department is a national key clinical specialty operating dedicated rheumatology inpatient wards, a comprehensive outpatient rheumatology clinic, a lupus center, a myositis clinic, a vasculitis clinic, a rare autoimmune disease clinic, and works in close collaboration with nephrology, pulmonology, cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and hematology through a fully integrated multidisciplinary team. The department's research program is one of the most productive in Asia, with landmark publications in New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Nature Medicine, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, and Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Conditions Treated

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Renji Hospital's lupus center is one of China's most experienced, managing one of the largest lupus patient cohorts in the country:

• Mild-Moderate SLE — Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as backbone therapy; low-dose corticosteroids; belimumab for steroid-sparing; voclosporin combinations
• Lupus Nephritis (LN) — Class III/IV LN: mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide + corticosteroids; voclosporin + MMF + belimumab (triple therapy); obinutuzumab for refractory LN; anifrolumab for type I interferon-high SLE; tacrolimus for membranous LN (Class V)
• Refractory SLE — Rituximab; belimumab + rituximab; anifrolumab; CAR-T cell therapy for refractory SLE (investigational — FUCH/Renji collaboration)
• Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) — Anticoagulation for antiphospholipid antibody-associated thrombosis; immunosuppression for inflammatory NPSLE; rituximab for refractory NPSLE
• Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) — Anticoagulation (warfarin, LMWH); hydroxychloroquine; rituximab for catastrophic APS; complement inhibition
• Lupus in Pregnancy — Pre-conception counseling; HCQ continuation; low-dose aspirin; LMWH for APS; belimumab safety data; neonatal lupus monitoring
• Pediatric SLE — Collaboration with pediatric rheumatology; aggressive immunosuppression for severe pediatric LN

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

• Early RA — Treat-to-target strategy; methotrexate as anchor therapy; leflunomide; hydroxychloroquine; sulfasalazine; tight disease activity monitoring (DAS28, CDAI)
• Moderate-Severe RA — TNF inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab, golimumab); abatacept; rituximab; tocilizumab and sarilumab (IL-6 inhibitors); JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, filgotinib)
• Refractory RA — Sequential biologic therapy; JAK inhibitor combinations; clinical trial access
• RA with ILD — Nintedanib for RA-ILD; mycophenolate mofetil; rituximab; pirfenidone
• Seronegative RA — Comprehensive evaluation for alternative diagnoses; aggressive treat-to-target
• RA in Pregnancy — Certolizumab (no placental transfer); hydroxychloroquine; sulfasalazine; azathioprine

Spondyloarthritis

• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) / Axial SpA — NSAIDs; TNF inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab, golimumab); IL-17A inhibitors (secukinumab, ixekizumab, bimekizumab); IL-23 inhibitors (risankizumab, guselkumab) for nr-axSpA; JAK inhibitors (upadacitinib, tofacitinib)
• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) — TNF inhibitors; IL-17A inhibitors; IL-23 inhibitors (guselkumab, risankizumab); IL-12/23 inhibitor (ustekinumab); JAK inhibitors; apremilast for mild-moderate PsA
• Reactive Arthritis — NSAIDs; antibiotic therapy for triggering infection; sulfasalazine for chronic disease
• Enteropathic Arthritis — IBD management; TNF inhibitors for both IBD and arthritis

Inflammatory Myopathies

• Dermatomyositis (DM) — Corticosteroids; methotrexate; azathioprine; IVIG; rituximab for refractory DM; intravenous immunoglobulin; anti-MDA5 DM with rapidly progressive ILD: combination immunosuppression + tofacitinib
• Polymyositis (PM) — Corticosteroids; methotrexate; azathioprine; rituximab
• Anti-Synthetase Syndrome — Anti-Jo-1, anti-PL-7, anti-PL-12, and other antisynthetase antibodies; ILD management; rituximab
• Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy (IMNM) — Anti-SRP and anti-HMGCR antibodies; IVIG; rituximab; complement inhibition
• Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) — Supportive care; bimagrumab in clinical trials
• Juvenile Dermatomyositis — Corticosteroids; methotrexate; IVIG; rituximab; tofacitinib for refractory JDM

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc / Scleroderma)

• SSc-ILD — Nintedanib (SENSCIS trial); mycophenolate mofetil; tocilizumab; rituximab; autologous HSCT for severe SSc
• SSc-PAH — Endothelin receptor antagonists (bosentan, macitentan, ambrisentan); PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil); prostacyclin analogues (iloprost, selexipag, IV epoprostenol); riociguat
• Raynaud's Phenomenon — Calcium channel blockers; phosphodiesterase inhibitors; iloprost IV for digital ulcers; bosentan for digital ulcer prevention
• SSc Renal Crisis — ACE inhibitors; dialysis; kidney transplantation
• Diffuse Cutaneous SSc — Methotrexate; mycophenolate mofetil; tocilizumab; autologous HSCT

Vasculitis

• ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (GPA, MPA, EGPA) — Rituximab + corticosteroids for induction (RAVE trial); cyclophosphamide for severe disease; avacopan (complement C5a receptor inhibitor) for steroid-sparing; rituximab maintenance; mepolizumab for EGPA
• Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) — High-dose corticosteroids; tocilizumab for steroid-sparing (GiACTA trial); avacopan; secukinumab in trials
• Takayasu Arteritis — Corticosteroids; methotrexate; azathioprine; tocilizumab; TNF inhibitors; surgical and endovascular intervention coordination
• Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) — Corticosteroids; cyclophosphamide for severe disease
• IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura) — Supportive care; corticosteroids for severe nephritis; dapsone for skin disease
• Behçet's Disease — Colchicine; azathioprine; apremilast for mucocutaneous disease; TNF inhibitors for severe/refractory disease; ustekinumab
• Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis — Rituximab; antiviral therapy for HCV-associated cryoglobulinemia

Crystal Arthropathies

• Gout — Allopurinol and febuxostat for urate lowering; pegloticase for refractory tophaceous gout; colchicine and NSAIDs for acute attacks; IL-1 inhibitors (canakinumab, anakinra) for recurrent acute gout
• Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) — NSAIDs; colchicine; IL-1 inhibitors for refractory CPPD

Rare Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Diseases

• Adult-Onset Still's Disease (AOSD) — NSAIDs; corticosteroids; methotrexate; IL-1 inhibitors (anakinra, canakinumab); IL-6 inhibitors (tocilizumab); JAK inhibitors
• Relapsing Polychondritis — Corticosteroids; dapsone; methotrexate; TNF inhibitors; IL-6 inhibitors
• IgG4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD) — Corticosteroids; rituximab for refractory/relapsing IgG4-RD; inebilizumab in trials
• Sjögren's Syndrome — Hydroxychloroquine; pilocarpine and cevimeline for sicca symptoms; rituximab for systemic manifestations; ianalumab (anti-BAFF) in trials; iscalimab in trials
• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) — Colchicine; canakinumab for colchicine-resistant FMF
• Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) — Emapalumab; etoposide-based therapy; HSCT for primary HLH
• Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) — High-dose corticosteroids; cyclosporine; anakinra; emapalumab

CAR-T Cell Therapy for Refractory Autoimmune Disease

Renji Hospital is one of China's pioneering centers for CAR-T cell therapy in refractory autoimmune diseases — a revolutionary approach that has shown remarkable results in patients with severe, treatment-refractory SLE, myositis, systemic sclerosis, and ANCA vasculitis. CD19-targeting CAR-T cells deplete autoreactive B cells and plasma cells, inducing deep and potentially durable remissions in patients who have failed all conventional therapies. This investigational approach, pioneered by German and Chinese centers, represents one of the most exciting developments in rheumatology in decades.

Why International Patients Choose Renji Rheumatology

• National Leadership — One of China's top-ranked rheumatology departments with landmark research contributions to lupus and autoimmune disease
• Lupus Center Expertise — One of China's largest lupus cohorts; voclosporin triple therapy; anifrolumab; CAR-T for refractory SLE
• Comprehensive Biologic Program — Full range of approved biologics and JAK inhibitors for RA, SpA, myositis, vasculitis, and rare autoimmune diseases
• CAR-T for Autoimmune Disease — Pioneering access to CAR-T cell therapy for refractory autoimmune conditions
• Multidisciplinary Integration — Seamless collaboration with nephrology, pulmonology, and other subspecialties for multi-system autoimmune disease
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class rheumatology care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your rheumatological diagnosis, autoantibody profile, organ involvement, prior treatment history, and current medications with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate rheumatologist based on your diagnosis — lupus, RA, myositis, vasculitis, SSc, or rare autoimmune disease.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by Renji's rheumatology MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Renji Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. On-Site Concierge — Bilingual coordinators accompany you throughout hospital visits, managing registration, translation, and communication.
8. Post-Consultation Follow-Up — Laboratory result translation, treatment plan interpretation, and remote follow-up coordination after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, myositis, systemic sclerosis, vasculitis, or a rare autoimmune condition — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Renji Hospital's rheumatology team in Shanghai.

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