SYSTEMIC LUPUS · SLE · LUPUS NEPHRITIS · LUPUS CEREBRITIS
A physician-led, laboratory-verified treatment programme designed to reduce disease activity, protect organ function and decrease dependence on immunosuppressive medication — tailored to the individual immunological profile, organ involvement and clinical priorities of each lupus patient.
Request Medical ConsultationAbout the Condition
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies against the body's own tissues and organs. Unlike conditions that affect a single system, lupus is systemic — it can damage the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, joints, skin and blood cells simultaneously.
The hallmark of SLE is the production of autoantibodies (particularly anti-dsDNA and anti-Smith antibodies) that form immune complexes. These complexes deposit in tissues, activate the complement system and trigger inflammatory cascades that cause progressive organ damage — even during periods when the patient feels relatively well.
SLE affects approximately 20–70 per 100,000 people, with a marked female predominance (9:1 ratio, typically onset between 15 and 45 years). Standard management relies on corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and immunosuppressants — which control symptoms but carry significant long-term toxicity. Cellular therapy targets the underlying immune dysregulation that drives the disease.
Lupus Nephritis
Renal involvement occurs in approximately 50% of SLE patients and is the leading cause of morbidity. Immune complex deposition in the glomeruli triggers inflammation and progressive kidney damage. Classified by ISN/RPS into six histological classes, with Class III–V requiring aggressive immunosuppression. MSC therapy has the strongest evidence base in this subtype.
Neuropsychiatric Lupus
CNS involvement manifests as cognitive dysfunction, seizures, psychosis, headache or cerebrovascular events. Affects 25–75% of patients depending on diagnostic criteria. Pathogenesis involves autoantibody-mediated neuronal damage, vasculitis and blood-brain barrier disruption. Often underdiagnosed and difficult to treat with conventional immunosuppression alone.
Cutaneous Lupus
Skin manifestations range from the classic malar (butterfly) rash to discoid lesions, photosensitivity and oral ulcers. May occur as part of systemic disease or as an isolated condition. Chronic cutaneous involvement can cause permanent scarring and significant psychological burden. Often the first visible sign that leads to diagnosis.
Haematological Lupus
Blood cell destruction by autoantibodies causes anaemia, leucopenia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. Present in up to 80% of SLE patients at some point during the disease course. Haematological abnormalities increase infection risk and may limit treatment options. Antiphospholipid antibodies in a subset of patients add thrombotic risk.
Our program is individually adapted for all subtypes and all stages of progression.
Important: Each patient is accepted into the programme only after a comprehensive individual medical assessment, which evaluates diagnosis, organ involvement, current SLEDAI score, medication history and overall clinical profile.
We do not offer a cure for SLE. Our programme is designed to target the immunological mechanisms driving disease activity — with the clinical objective of reducing flare frequency, protecting organ function, and enabling meaningful reduction in immunosuppressive medication.
Clinical Outcomes
The following data are derived from structured observational analysis of patients treated at BioCells Medical between 2016 and 2025. All figures represent aggregated clinical registry outcomes with longitudinal follow-up. These are observational results — not randomised controlled trial data — and do not constitute a guarantee of therapeutic effect.
42
SLE patients treated since 2013
76%
measurable functional stabilisation on SLEDAI at 3–6 months
−3.6 pts
average SLEDAI score change at 6 months — vs. expected +0.8 pts natural progression
73%
sustained functional stability with average 2 years of follow-up
78%
showed improvement in one or more measured domains
74%
retained independence in basic activities of daily living (ADL) at 12 months
Joint/organ function (renal parameters including proteinuria and eGFR, haematological indices)
72%
Inflammation (SLEDAI reduction, autoantibody activity, complement levels)
74%
Systemic symptoms (joint pain, morning stiffness, skin manifestations, photosensitivity)
76%
Quality of life (corticosteroid dose reduction, flare frequency, daily functional capacity)
70%
2–6 weeks
Initial immunological response
2–5 months
Clinically meaningful change
1–2 years onward
Long-term stability — continuous monitoring
Important: Outcomes depend on SLE subtype, baseline SLEDAI and BILAG scores, organ involvement, disease duration and individual biological response. Individual results may vary significantly.
Find out if our program can help in your specific case. The initial medical consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Request ConsultationPatient Stories
“I was on high-dose steroids and still flaring every couple of months. Nothing my rheumatologist prescribed held for long. After the treatment in Warsaw, my doctor was able to bring the steroids down to a fraction of what I was taking. The flares stopped. My kidney numbers improved for the first time in years.”
Patient
Lupus Nephritis (Class IV) · Brazil
Every case is assessed individually by our physician team. Request a consultation to discuss your specific situation with our physician team.
Request ConsultationPatient Cases
Documented treatment outcomes recorded by the BioCells Medical team after personalised regenerative medicine protocols.
The BioCells Program
Our SLE programme combines five biological components into a single personalised protocol. No two protocols are identical — each is constructed following a detailed medical evaluation of the patient's immunological profile, organ involvement, and clinical priorities.
Minimally invasive administration
Treatment is delivered by intravenous infusion — not surgical instruments. The procedure is well-tolerated and does not require hospitalisation.
No general anaesthesia
Important for SLE patients who may have cardiac, renal or haematological complications that increase anaesthesia risk.
No risk of immune rejection
MSCs are immunoprivileged: they express low levels of HLA-I, lack HLA-II and carry a minimal risk of rejection whether the protocol is autologous or allogeneic. Allogeneic MSC protocols do not require immunosuppression.
Targets the underlying immune dysregulation
Rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, our protocol targets the specific immunological mechanisms — autoantibody production, T-cell imbalance, complement activation — that drive SLE.
Designed to reduce steroid dependency
A core clinical objective is enabling meaningful corticosteroid dose reduction under physician supervision — reducing the cumulative toxicity that accompanies long-term steroid use in lupus.
Patients from around the world
We work with patients from around the world. Airport transfers, accommodation, visa support and multilingual coordination are included in every treatment programme.
What It Is
MSCs are multipotent regenerative cells with documented immunomodulatory properties. They are among the most extensively studied cell types in autoimmune disease and have demonstrated both safety and efficacy across multiple clinical trials in lupus nephritis — particularly in Chinese multicentre studies involving several hundred patients.
How It Is Done
Cells are collected from the patient's own bone marrow (autologous, approximately 3-5 ml under local anaesthesia) or sourced from a certified donor (allogeneic), depending on individual clinical indications. All cells are then expanded, quality-controlled and tested in our certified Warsaw laboratory before administration.
Biological Mechanisms
How This Helps in SLE
In SLE, the fundamental problem is a loss of immune self-tolerance — the body attacks its own tissues. MSCs directly address this by resetting the immune balance: suppressing overactive B-cells that produce autoantibodies, shifting T-cell populations toward regulatory phenotypes, and reducing the inflammatory signalling that drives organ damage. The evidence base for MSC therapy in lupus nephritis is particularly robust.
Your Medical Board
The exact combination, dosage, sequencing and delivery method of all five components is determined individually by our medical board for each patient. No two treatment protocols are identical. Your programme is constructed based on your specific diagnosis, organ involvement, SLEDAI score, medication history and clinical priorities.
Your protocol is designed individually. Speak with our medical team to understand what your personalised program would include.
Request ConsultationPatient Journey
Your case is reviewed remotely by our physician team. We assess your diagnosis, current SLEDAI status, organ involvement, medication history and treatment goals. This consultation is free and carries no obligation.
A detailed review of all medical documentation including laboratory results, renal biopsy reports (where applicable) and imaging. Our medical board evaluates eligibility, confirms safety parameters and designs your personalised therapeutic protocol.
Your cells are collected, isolated, expanded and quality-tested in our certified Warsaw laboratory. Each batch receives a full traceability certificate. This stage typically takes 2–3 weeks.
Cells are delivered by intravenous infusion — no surgery, no general anaesthesia. Airport transfers, accommodation and visa support are included in the programme for international patients.
Structured rehabilitation sessions with our specialist, adapted to your current functional capacity and organ involvement. Includes guidance on fatigue management, joint protection and UV avoidance strategies. Available at our clinic or remotely coordinated with your local medical team.
Your dedicated coordinator monitors disease activity, laboratory parameters and medication adjustments. Regular SLEDAI and BILAG assessments track clinical response. A medical-grade wearable bracelet supports continuous health tracking regardless of your location.
The first step is free. Request a medical consultation and our medical consultant will contact you within 24 hours.
Request ConsultationSafety Profile
Cellular therapy is considered safe when delivered under proper medical supervision and according to validated protocols. In our practice, the procedure is well-tolerated by the majority of SLE patients.
Temporary mild reactions — such as transient local discomfort at the infusion site, slight fatigue or low-grade temperature — may occur in a minority of patients. These are typically short-lived and indicate active immune engagement. Importantly, MSC therapy does not carry the infection risk associated with conventional high-dose immunosuppression.
A final medical assessment is performed on-site before every treatment session. If a patient's status has changed — including active severe flare, new infection or significant laboratory deterioration — the programme may be temporarily modified or postponed for safety reasons.
All contraindications are evaluated individually. A contraindication in one clinical context does not necessarily preclude treatment in a different context — this is always determined by physician assessment.
Standard Contraindications
Active acute infection or sepsis
Active malignancy or ongoing chemotherapy / radiotherapy
Severe decompensated cardiac or renal failure (eGFR <15 without dialysis)
Pregnancy or active planning of pregnancy within 3 months
Active thrombotic event in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
Post-Treatment
Dedicated immunology specialist
monitors disease activity, renal parameters and medication adjustments
Personalised rehabilitation programme
adapted to current functional capacity, fatigue levels and joint involvement
Medical-grade wearable monitoring
continuous physiological data collection supporting clinical decision-making
Long-term coordinator support
proactive check-ins, clinical guidance and response to any changes in status
Continued clinical access
our medical team remains available for ongoing reassessment and protocol adjustment
Immunological recalibration is a gradual biological process. The weeks and months following treatment require structured monitoring, careful medication titration and clinical vigilance. Our team manages this period actively — adjusting recommendations as laboratory and clinical data evolve.
Get Started
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, our medical team is available for a free, no-obligation medical consultation — based on your diagnosis, organ involvement and individual clinical profile.
We review every inquiry personally. You will speak with a physician, not an administrator.
Submit your case online or by phone
Our medical consultant contacts you to review your documents
The medical board presents your personalised treatment plan
Request a Consultation
Tell us about your condition. Our medical consultant will contact you within 24 hours to review your documents.
Open Consultation FormMultilingual coordination — English, Italian, French, Russian, Polish
Evidence Base
Our clinical approach is informed by and consistent with published research in the field of regenerative medicine.
