The concept of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a relapsing and remitting condition is deeply embedded in how clinicians perceive this disease. This perception arises from observations of periods of low disease activity interspersed with episodes of more active disease, which are commonly referred to as “flares.” Although the concept of flare in SLE is widely accepted in general terms, how to define and measure flare in clinical research and clinical practice is a topic of debate that remains unresolved. In this issue of The Journal of Rheumatology , Rogers et al bring a further dimension to this debate, with respect to the differences between clinicians’ and patients’ understanding of the concept of flare.1 So first, what do clinicians mean by flare? In an attempt to standardize this, especially for research purposes, a consensus definition of flare was developed under the auspices of the Lupus Foundation of America as “a measurable increase in disease activity involving new or w