Care and Compassion

The London Lupus Centre, part of the London Bridge Hospital, overlooks the Tower Bridge and the Thames.

Marcus feels comforted by the fact that, at LLC, her many doctors are in close communication with each other. “They talk together about my case and make sure that factors like drug interactions and dosages are clearly defined,” says Marcus, who was hospitalized for three years due to severe problems in this area in the past. “It’s great to not have to run from one hospital to another to get to see the doctors I need.”

Because of infertility problems and risk of miscarriage for women with lupus and APS, the LLC holds a pregnancy clinic every Monday with 30 to 40 patients in attendance. These women come for the care, but stay for the camaraderie of talking with others in their same predicament. Interaction of this kind is highly encouraged by the LLC. An annual tea party is held for mothers who have benefited from the LLC’s services. They return with their babies for a celebration of the miracle of birth. “It’s a bit chaotic, but actually quite nice,” says Dr. Hughes.

Successful Start

Success stories abound, including one of an American who was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). He spent five years paying out of pocket for very expensive treatments before coming to the LLC. “It’s not uncommon for APS symptoms to lead to an MS conclusion,” says Dr. Hughes. With proper testing, the patient was found to have APS and now takes aspirin to alleviate his difficulties.

A local dart champion from a small English village began to have trouble remembering where the high mark was on the board. As her memory loss progressed, she came to suspect that she had Alzheimer’s. The LLC relieved her anxiety when physicians there discovered a mini-clot and started her on anticoagulant therapy. She now tests her blood regularly to monitor her international ratio, a procedure that Dr. Hughes highly recommends for all APS patients.

Education is a big component of the LLC’s work. Besides generating books and pamphlets for patients, Dr. Hughes and his staff lecture to general practitioner seminars and lupus symposiums throughout the world. “I tell general physicians that they should always think of lupus when a patient presents with a lot of vague symptoms, such as fatigue, memory loss, migraines, or claustrophobia. It’s terribly easy to dismiss these, but the test is very simple, and when it is APS it is so treatable,” says Dr. Hughes.