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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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Covid-19 Vaccine for Lupus Patients: Please get your vaccine

Should We be Recommending the COVID-19 Vaccine for Lupus Patients?: Yes! What I tell my systemic lupus patients

Lupus and Stress Management: How to lessen stress life

Lupus and Stress Management: The Science of Stress and the Immune System The video below goes over 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
Lupus and purple spot

Lupus and Purple Spots on Skin

Lupus is an intricate autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple systems in the body, including the skin. One

Rheumatologists: What if hydroxychloroquine eye tests show retinopathy [FEB 2023 Update]

Do not automatically stop hydroxychloroquine if your eye doctor tells you your patient has HCQ-retinopathy! Heed my practical
exercise and lupus photo of a woman on a stationary bicycle

Weight Loss & Exercise in Lupus: the science & patient view

The video provided below offers valuable insights into practical information regarding weight management and exercise for individuals with

Research Results in Dealing with Autoimmune Disease Fatigue Now

The causes of fatigue and dealing with autoimmune disease fatigue. ​ Tips on how to improve energy with

How to Stop Lupus Hair Loss:

How to stop hair loss! – Yes! You can do things to help! And learn that much of
CBD for lupus medical marijuana leaf symbol

CBD for Lupus: Look here for the best advice [2023 Update]

  Medical Marijuana (Cannabis, Cannabinoids, THC, CBD for Lupus)? Should patients use CBD for lupus? With the increasing
Benlysta During Pregnancy - photo of pregnant woman

Benlysta During Pregnancy: Safe and Effective [UPDATE MARCH 2023]

March 2023 Update on using Benlysta during pregnancy A March 2023 study found low B-cells at birth in
skillet with salmon and vegetables part of anti-inflammatory diet

Lupus Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Lifestyle changes advice [JUL 2023 UPDATE]

Lupus Lifestyle Changes (Diet and Exercise) are Important: Read here to learn about important dietary changes   Updated

Lupus Tendonitis: A Common Cause of Pain in Lupus Patients

https://www.lupusencyclopedia.com/book-photos/#tendon…

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 aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index Test: A new lupus lab test

The aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index test The Lupus Foundation of America, in its continuous quest to advocate
Bisphosphonate drugs and lupus

Bisphosphonate Drugs and Lupus

Contents General introduction about bisphosphonate drugs and lupus Maintaining bone density holistically (through non-drug methods) Bisphosphonate section from

Colossal Shortage of Rheumatologists is Here: Panic?

World-wide shortage of rheumatologists= getting worse. This is why it is getting harder to get an appointment with

Positive ANA workup – Is it lupus or not?

Read on to learn about newer tests that can help get a more accurate and faster diagnosis of

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

How to collect a urine sample properly for testing (UPDATED August 2023)

  It is essential for lupus patients to regularly collect an accurate clean catch urine sample   August

Participate in this lupus survey if you live in the USA [Survey is closed]

The Lupus Foundation of America wants to learn more about the difficulties in being diagnosed with lupus Click
Asian woman doctor reading a chest x-ray showing pneumonia

New Pneumonia, Shingles, and Hepatitis Vaccine Recommendations [2022]

Centers for Disease Control 2022 Recommendations In February 2022, the CDC came out with its new vaccine recommendations.
Photo of Botox injection syringe

Botox Injections and Lupus

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause a range of
Two arm wrestlers representing Saphnelo vs Benlysta

Saphnelo vs Benlysta? What is the Best Medicine for Lupus? [JUN 2023 Update]

Update June 2023 A EULAR 2023 abstract showed that Saphnelo is a disease-modifying agent in the 2-5 year
The Lupus Encyclopedia book cover 2nd edition

Three Potential Book Covers for The Lupus Encyclopedia 2nd Edition

THE VOTE IS IN! See the new book cover below 315 people voted for the new book cover

Vitamins For Lupus: Avoid some is the best advice

Not All Supplements and Vitamins for Lupus Patients are Safe Vitamins for lupus patients: “Ask Dr. T!” question
Antibody levels after COVID vaccine in patients taking immunosuppressant drugs

Antibody Levels After COVID Vaccine

Some Immunosuppressant Drugs Cause Lower Antibody Levels after COVID Vaccine than do Other Drugs Home » Heart attacks,

How Severe is Your Lupus? Use a Lupus Severity Index

Read on: learn how you to figure out your lupus disease activity And why it is important Why
Type 1 interferon cytokines are inhibited by the anifrolumab FDA approval drug

Anifrolumab FDA approval to treat systemic lupus [Saphnelo]

Anifrolumab FDA Approval to Treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) AstraZeneca announced its anifrolumab FDA approval on 8/2/2021. In

Itchy Skin Can Be a Sign of Active Lupus

Updated JUN 2023 Itchy skin can occur with active lupus rashes (cutaneous lupus). However, other causes are much
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
Dr. Donald Thomas MD holding the new edition Lupus Encyclopedia A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Health Care Providers

The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2: Now Available!

The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Health Care Providers is now available at

Lupus Flare After Flu Shot? Question of the Day Here

Do Flu Shots Cause Lupus Flares? Lupus flare after flu shot? Question of the day: Dr. Thomas, I

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
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!

FDA approves Benlysta for lupus nephritis!

1st drug ever FDA-approved to treat lupus nephritis ​Historic mile-stone! ​ December 16, 2020: The FDA approved on
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 was
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,

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

Bacteria in Urine Increases Lupus Flares

If we prevent bacteria in urine (bacteriuria), could we decrease lupus flares? Bacteria in urine was found in

How does Hydroxychloroquine work for Lupus (SLE)? [DEC 2022 Update]

December 2022 update: Hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying agent for lupus (along with Benlysta). Antimalarial drugs can treat autoimmune

Chromatin antibody: Make sure you know your labs

Know your labs when you have lupus Chromatin is our DNA packaged up nice and neat with other

Share Lupus Experiences Now: Help current research on lupus

IF YOU HAVE LUPUS OR ARE A CAREGIVER: Help current research on lupus by sharing your experiences with

Living With Lupus Blog: The Lupus Encyclopedia – Q & A Video

Dr. Donald Thomas Answers Lupus Patients’ Questions on His Living With Lupus Blog: The Lupus Encyclopedia Watch this
Photo of person holding a soap bubble

The Best Soap for Lupus Patients

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, causing sensitivity and increased vulnerability to irritants.
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

COVID Vaccine for Immunocompromised Patients and What Drugs to Stop

The American College of Rheumatology Provides Guidance for stopping drugs to enhance the COVID vaccine for immunocompromised patients
Dry cracked skin

Top Dermatologist Tips For Itchy, Dry Skin in Lupus and Sjögren’s [JUN 2023 Update]

Quick Advice Guaranteed to Help Most with Dry Itchy Skin: Stop using Dove and other soaps that say
Illustration of a clipboard, doctor and thyroid

Lupus and Thyroid Medications

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, and organs.

Can Discoid Lupus Turn into Systemic?- “Sure” Now more about the truth

The Latest Research Answers the Question: “Can discoid lupus turn into systemic lupus erythematosus?” Discoid lupus: note the

Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines: How Effective is One COVID shot?

CDC Study answers this question Please get your COVID-19 vaccine! We all would like life to go back