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Megan Elizabeth Bowles Clowse

Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology
Duke Box 3535, Durham, NC 27710
Baker House 07, Duke South, Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Megan Clowse is a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology; she also holds joint appointments in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Population Health Sciences.  Her clinical research focuses on the management of rheumatic diseases in pregnancy. She has cared for over 1000 pregnancies in women with rheumatic disease, collecting information on these pregnancies initially in the Duke Autoimmunity in Pregnancy Registry and Repository, and the MADRA (Maternal Autoimmune Disease Research Alliance) registry and repository.  She served on the Core Leadership Team for the inaugural American College of Rheumatology's Reproductive Health Guidelines, published January 2020.  Dr. Clowse created www.LupusPregnancy.org and www.ReproRheum.Duke.edu, websites dedicated to improving pregnancy planning and management for patients and rheumatologists.  

Dr. Clowse was the founding director of the Duke Lupus Clinic, where she continues to see patients each week and mentor junior faculty researchers.  The team has developed a new approach to lupus classification and management and is currently collecting and analyzing patient- and physician-reported measures to  better clarify this construct.  


Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Medicine · 2024 - Present Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology, Medicine
Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2024 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2024 - Present Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Science Departments

In the News


Published November 9, 2020
Women with Autoimmune Lung Disease Can Safely Give Birth if Closely Monitored
Published November 11, 2019
Can You Breastfeed if You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Published August 20, 2019
HOP-STEP program builds plan for 'pregnancy success' in patients with lupus

View All News

Recent Publications


Pharmacokinetics of Certolizumab Pegol in Pregnancy: Results from the Open-Label CHERISH Study.

Journal Article Rheumatol Ther · June 2026 INTRODUCTION: Control of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) during pregnancy is essential for maternal and foetal health; however, the impact of pregnancy on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of CID therapies is unknown. This study investigated the impact of pre ... Full text Link to item Cite

Serum BAFF levels in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Journal Article Lupus · April 2026 Background/PurposeThe B cell Activating Factor (BAFF) signaling pathway influences rheumatic disease through its role in the selection, maturation, and survival of B cells. Increased BAFF also correlates with hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnant women ... Full text Link to item Cite

Differences in Self-Reported Medication Nonadherence and Its Drivers in Young Adults Versus Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Journal Article J Rheumatol · April 1, 2026 OBJECTIVE: Medication adherence poses a challenge for young patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who experience more active disease and damage than their older counterparts. This study aimed to quantify the rate of medication nonadherence by a ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University

ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Advancing Reproductive Rheumatology through Research Mentoring

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2024 - 2029

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Education


Vanderbilt University · 1999 M.D.
University of California, Los Angeles · 1994 M.P.H.