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Dr. Don Thomas, MD

I am Dr. Donald Thomas, MD, a rheumatologist treating hundreds of lupus patients for over 30 years. Read my first blog post here to understand why I started this website and blog about “The Lupus Encyclopedia” and “The Lupus Secrets”.

Dr. Don Thomas also enjoys educating and empowering doctors, medical students, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and patients.

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Immunosuppressants and COVID vaccine ACR guidelines and recommendations

Immunosuppressants and COVID Vaccine: Fundamentals in the new guidelines

Immunosuppressants and COVID vaccine: which you should stop and not stop American College of Rheumatology Clinical Guidance Summary UPDATED
Lupus Mottled Skin

Lupus Mottled Skin & Symptoms (Feb 2025 Update)

One skin issue associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is “mottled skin,” with livedo reticularis being one of
Image of two kidneys and some doctors with the title chronic kidney disease

3 Ways to Stop Lupus Kidney Disease Progression [Jan 2025]

It is indeed possible to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with lupus and
VA disability for lupus

VA Disability for Lupus: Navigating Your Claim [Feb 2025 Update]

Startling statistic: A large study showed that Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans suffering from PTSD were twice as likely
Photo of sunspots: Johns Hopkins Lupus Center Reviews

Johns Hopkins Lupus Center Reviews: 2025 Sunspots & Milder Lupus?

Johns Hopkins Lupus Center Reviews: Could sunspots in 2025 lead to milder lupus? 2014 photo by NASA showing
Microscopic view of a positive fluorescent antinuclear antibody test used to diagnose a lupus patient

Positive ANA workup – Is it lupus or not? [October 2024 Update]

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are present in up to 20% of the healthy population, depending upon the particular lab
smart phone with apps

Arthritis – “it’s a Pain in the App” [Coping with lupus]

Guest post: One method of coping with the struggles of lupus Living and coping with the challenges of
Anti-inflammatory diet for lupus patients

Lupus and Vegetarian Diet: What is the best medical evidence?

Ask Dr. T Question about lupus diet and vegetarians Lupus and Vegetarian Diet? Eating a Vegetarian Diet can
Lupus and the Nervous System

Lupus and the Nervous System

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) commonly affects the body’s nerves. Our nerves cause us to be able to feel
Lupus headaches

Lupus Headaches: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment [March 2025 Update]

Most systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients get headaches. Are these due to lupus? Or are they due to
Woman sitting on chair

Spotlight on a Good Poem by Devoted Lupus Warrior

Lupus by Lupus Warrior and Lupus Fighter Shanelle Gabrielle “​I still have a purpose … A reason to
Extra COVID vaccines are important for us to prevent infection

Dr. Donald Thomas gets his extra COVID vaccines: It was easy!

UPDATED September 2021: I cannot wait to get my extra COVID vaccines … specifically my 3rd booster shot!
White woman with shoulder pain fibromyalgia autoimmune disease blog post

Is Fibromyalgia an Autoimmune Disease? Research suggests “YES!”

Research Article: Passive transfer of fibromyalgia symptoms from patients to mice Goebel A, Krock E, Gentry C, Israel
Woman taking pills out of a pill box organizer

Hydroxychloroquine Decreases the Risk of Death

Research article shows that taking hydroxychloroquine decreases the risk of death by 83%: Impact of Antimalarial Adherence on
Sunscreen on two fingers of a hand showing how much sunscreen to use for sun protection in lupus

Sun Protection for Lupus Made Simple

SSun protection for lupus is one of its most essential treatments. It is so important I include sunscreen
Word Symptoms in Scrabble Tiles

Early Signs of Lupus: What to Look For (May 2025 Update)

We must diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) soon after symptoms begin. The quicker we treat SLE, the less
Proton pump inhibitor induced subacute cutaneous lupus on upper back of woman with systemic lupus erythematosus

Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Due to Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitor-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus: Clinical characteristics and outcomes In this post we’ll cover subacute cutaneous
Dry cracked skin

Top Dermatologist Tips For Itchy, Dry Skin in Lupus and Sjögren’s [January 2026 Update]

Unfortunately, dry, itchy skin is a common problem in lupus patients. Most patients try everything they think may
blood vessels vascular with red blood cells floating inside an artery

Diabetes Drug Pioglitazone Helpful for Lupus [Suggests NIH study]

Lupus Research Article Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist pioglitazone improves vascular and metabolic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus This
Male lupus patient with a mask

“Do I need a mask after vaccination?” Now here is the truth

Please continue to protect yourself as you did before if you have lupus or another systemic autoimmune disease
Photo of person holding a soap bubble

The Best Soap for Lupus Patients (January 2026 Update)

Selecting the right soap for lupus patients is crucial because certain soaps can worsen irritation from cutaneous lupus
Coronavirus vaccine for COVID-19 and lupus patients

COVID Vaccine for Immunocompromised Patients and What Drugs to Stop [December 2023 UPDATE]

The American College of Rheumatology Provides Guidance for stopping drugs to enhance the COVID vaccine for immunocompromised patients
Childhood stress and lupus question answered by Dr. Donald Thomas

Childhood Trauma, PTSD, Racism, Stress, and Lupus

Crucially, multiple studies show that stress and trauma increase the risk of developing lupus, as well as causing
blood test for Epstein Barr virus and mononucleosis

Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine to Prevent Lupus and Other Diseases?

An Epstein Barr virus (EBV) vaccine to prevent lupus? EBV infection may be a common trigger, causing the
Use of DHEA in lupus patients

DHEA and Lupus: Research shows it to be useful and good in some

Other Facts about DHEA and lupus – DHEA and lupus: DHEA stands for DeHydroEpiAndrosterone – Produced by the
Man with yellow eyes due to jaundice from hepatitis

Lupus and Hepatitis B Vaccine: Endorsed in the CDC guidelines

Lupus and Hepatitis B Addendum: The recommendations for hepatitis B vaccines changed in 2022. The CDC recommended that
The endocrine system and lupus

Lupus and The Endocrine System

Lupus, a complex autoimmune condition, impacts various systems in the body, including the endocrine system. The endocrine system
Woman holding thermometer to head during what is a lupus flare

What is a Lupus Flare: Prevent and Treat [March 2025 Update]

Did you know that even mild to moderate lupus flares are associated with a two-fold increased risk of
Malar butterfly rash symptom of lupus

How to Diagnose Lupus: 10 Symptoms (Feb 25 Update)

Diagnosing lupus is challenging, even for medical professionals. Early diagnosis is crucial for early treatment to reduce inflammation,
Lupus and hives on arm

Lupus and Hives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause hives (also called urticaria). Hives are itchy, swollen bumps that appear on
Proteinuria in lupus nephritis. This is what a kidney looks like

Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis: Now in a nutshell in this video [FEB 2025 UPDATE]

Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis in easy-to-understand language ___________________________ NOTE: Johns Hopkins University Press, publisher of The Lupus Encyclopedia, is a
Lupus patient in ICU hospital with COVID-19

COVID-19 deaths in rheumatic diseases

Research Shows More COVID-19 Deaths in Rheumatic Diseases: 10.5% of lupus and rheumatic disease patients died Much higher
A lupus patient with Jaccoud

Lupus Tendonitis: A Common Cause of Pain in Lupus Patients

https://www.lupusencyclopedia.com/book-photos/#tendon…
Dr. Donald Thomas MD holding the new edition Lupus Encyclopedia A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Health Care Providers

Angela Deem of 90-Day Fiancé

  ​A gift for Christmas 2020, since I’m a 90-Day Fiancé fan. Angela wishes me a Merry Christmas and
Man with lupus with hands on his chest during a heart attack

Bottom Line on Diabetes vs Lupus and Stroke & Heart Attacks

Lupus and Stroke and Heart Attacks: A bigger problem than we thought! We have known for a long
Image of blood cells

Benlysta Reviews: Learn the amazing truth on how it works

  …
Urticaria hives allergic reaction in systemic lupus erythematosus SLE

Allergies and Itching after COVID vaccine? Announcing Research Here

Results from 64,900 vaccines: How often are allergies and itching after COVID vaccine? We’ll take a look at
Anti-inflammatory diet for lupus and autoimmune diseases

Anti-inflammatory Diet for Autoimmune Disease: New Research (AI Protocol)

The Autoimmune Protocol (AI protocol) is another term for the anti-inflammatory diet. The chart below was shown to
COVID booster vaccine button

COVID Vaccines, Evusheld & Stopping Drugs for Shots [FEB 2023 Update]

  Stopping Methotrexate for 1 Week as Effective as 2 Weeks after Flu shots [FEB 2023 Update) This
dry skin close up on the face of a woman

Lupus and Dry Skin

Lupus often manifests its effects on the skin. One potential problem is dry, itchy skin. Fortunately, a lot
Donald Thomas, MD reading a book while writing The Lupus Encyclopedia and The Lupus Secrets

The Lupus Secrets [Practical Tips for Living with Lupus]

Do you have lupus, then you absolutely want to learn about follow The Lupus Secrets so that you
Probiotic supplements and lupus

Lupus and Taking Probiotics/Prebiotics: The truth [Updated JUL ’23]

Lupus and taking probiotics: Should you take probiotics if you have lupus, and what are the best probiotics
Discoid lupus on the chest of a white woman Saphelo for lupus

Saphnelo for Lupus: One of Two Approved Biologics [February 2025 Update]

Anifrolumab (Saphnelo) effectively treats individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus. It reduces the overactivity of an immune system molecule
Lupus symptoms in men

Symptoms of Lupus in Men [March 2025 Update]

While lupus is more common in women, 10% of lupus patients are men. Understanding the symptoms of lupus
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies and lupus

Anticardiolipin Antibodies and Lupus [Feb 2025 Update]

Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLA), a type of antiphospholipid antibody, can thicken the blood and potentially cause devastating blood clots
Medication blister packet

Heparin versus Warfarin for Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can lead to blood clots through various mechanisms. In addition, lupus patients are at
Blood test for creatine phosphokinase (CPK)

Lupus and Creatine Phosphokinase

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus, is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect multiple systems
Newspaper on fire about lupus patients and COVID-19 vaccines

Provocative Advice: Lupus Patients need COVID Vaccines [2021]

Evaluation and recommendations by noted lupus experts: Lupus patients need COVID vaccines Hot off the press from Lupus
COVID Booster vaccine for lupus patients is possible according to research study

Immunosuppressed Patients Respond to Booster Shots: Hope for a COVID Booster Vaccine for Lupus and Other Autoimmune Disease Patients? [Updated 8/12/21]

  Will a COVID Booster Vaccine for Lupus Patients Increase Response Rates? We do not know, yet. However,
Illustration of a clipboard, doctor and thyroid

Lupus and Thyroid Medications

Lupus and thyroid disease go hand in hand. The thyroid gland is at the front of the neck,