European Working Party on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a 10 year report

The ‘European Working Party on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)’ was created in 1990 in order to promote research in Europe on the different problems related to this disease. Ricard Cervera and Josep Font, from Barcelona, and Munther A Khamashta and Graham RV Hughes, from London, were the promoters of this study group. The main objectives of this study group were: (1) to provide logistic support for the creation of a network of databases and serum banks of SLE patients throughout Europe; (2) to organize European multicentre studies on SLE, using the information provided by this network; (3) to facilitate the interchange of information, by means of scientific meetings and workshops; and (4) to promote the mobility of researchers from one European centre to another in order to obtain better specific training on technical procedures for the study and management of SLE.