Diagnosing Lupus

Dr. Don Thomas explains ANA negative lupus

Can You Have Lupus With a Negative ANA Test? “Yes you can!” (October 2024 Update)

January 10, 2021

Protect yourself from medical mistakes. A study by a large group of international lupus experts (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics or SLICC) showed that 6% of their systemic lupus erythematosus patients were ANA negative at the time of diagnosis. With

…

Most Popular

Woman with lupus helping lupus research for the Lupus Foundation of America

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

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

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

sick girl for blog about children with kidney inflammation blog post

Benlysta for pediatric lupus nephritis: FDA-approved

Benlysta for children with lupus kidney inflammation (lupus nephritis): FDA-approved on July 26, 2022 This is a

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, the Heart and Blood Vessels [March 2025 Update]

Lupus can significantly impact the heart and blood vessels, known as the cardiovascular system. This article goes into

Lupus medication list with drug allergy list including sulfa and Bactrim antibiotics

Good Advice on Lupus and Sulfa Antibiotics Like Bactrim [April 2025 Update]

Lupus and Bactrim: List sulfa antibiotics (like Bactrim) in your drug intolerance list if you have lupus 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

Sleep hygiene recommendations for lupus patients

Lupus and Sleep: Strategies to Sleep Better!

Lupus and Sleep Problems are Common: Strategies to improve your sleep (October 2024 Update) Tips on better sleep

Image showing complications of dry mouth from lupus exocrine involvement

Lupus and The Exocrine Gland System: Sjögren’s Disease [Mar ’25 Update]

Lupus patients can have dry mouth, eyes, and skin. Most of the time, this is due to having

Effects of lupus on the body [Feb 2025 Update]

The effects of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the body are diverse, impacting individuals in unexpected and varying

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

Lupus and Antimalarials

Lupus and antimalarials share a surprising and life-saving connection. While antimalarials were first used to fight malaria, doctors

Don Thomas, MD answers question about lupus and immune boosting supplements like Echinacea

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

Lupus and the Respiratory System [March 2025 Update]

The respiratory system, or the pulmonary system, is commonly affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This system plays

Lupus in Children and Adolescents

Lupus in children and adolescents, known as childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE), is a complex autoimmune disease that

Elderly woman and adult daughter caregiver

Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month

Every November, we join millions around the country in Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month. This annual observance honors

News Flash COVID-19 vaccine for lupus patients

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

New lupus test for lupus flares announced by The Lupus Foundation

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

Prognosis, Special Populations, and Health Care Disparities

Lupus is a complex autoimmune condition which can affect different groups of people in different ways. This makes

Herbal supplements for lupus that worsen lupus

Supplements That Worsen Lupus & 6 That Help [March 2025 Update]

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system is overactive. This post discusses a 2024 research study

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound for weight loss in lupus, shown with GLP-1 injection pens, lupus butterfly, heart and kidney icons, and measuring tape.

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound for Weight Loss in Lupus: What Patients Should Know

Many people with lupus ask me about the newer weight-loss and diabetes medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro,

Benlysta Reviews: Learn the amazing truth on how it works

…

Survey about being diagnosed with lupus and The Lupus Foundation of America

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

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine: Now see me excited to get it

What was it like getting the COVID-19 vaccine? … and some advice for lupus patients A rheumatology

Benlysta is FDA approved to treat lupus nephritis

Benlysta approved for lupus nephritis: is it for mild cases?

Lupus Question of The Day: Is Benlysta for mild lupus nephritis? Ask Dr. T question and shortened answer

A man with trigger finger due to tenosynovitis

Now Research Shows: Lupus tendinitis, common cause of lupus pain

Th Jaccoud’s arthropathy due to lupus tendinitis (lupus tendonitis) and lupus tenosynovitis What is lupus tendinitis (also spelled

“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

How the Covid-19 Vaccine Works: amazing!

It is amazing how the COVID-19 vaccine works (the mRNA vaccines, especially) It intrigues me how the COVID-19

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

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

Lupus and High White Blood Cells in Urine

Elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts can arise in lupus patients for various reasons. This article will delve

Botox or filler injections for lupus picture of a woman getting a lip injection

Is it Safe to Receive Botox or Filler Injections For Lupus Patients?

A lupus patient at Kelli Roseta’s “More Than Lupus” asks the question ” … is it safe to

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

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

Bisphosphonate Drugs and Lupus

Many SLE patients have fractures in their spine (vertebral fractures), and around half do not realize it. After

Lupus and Hives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause hives (also called urticaria). Hives are itchy, swollen bumps that appear on

COVID-19 vaccine for lupus patients answer by Dr. Don Thomas

Lupus and COVID vaccine: Tested in the clinical trials = safe and effective!

Lupus and COVID vaccine: Dr. Thomas recommends not waiting to his patients, read below… Research regarding the COVID

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

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

Beat cancer woman with pink gloves and pink ribbon for breast cancer

Lupus and Cancer Risk: Learn to Prevent Cancer! [August 2024]

People who have lupus have an increased risk for getting some cancers. Knowing what they are and how

Can You Have Lupus With a Negative ANA Test? “Yes you can!” (October 2024 Update)

Protect yourself from medical mistakes. A study by a large group of international lupus experts (Systemic Lupus International

Lupus and the Urinary System [March 2025 Update]

Kidney inflammation (lupus nephritis) occurs in around 45% of people who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore, lupus

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

Lupus Lab Tests Explained: What Blood Tests Mean for Diagnosing and Monitoring Lupus

Understanding your lupus lab tests when you have lupus can be overwhelming. Labs such as ANA, anti-dsDNA, and

estrogen levels by age in women and lupus from puberty to menopause

Lupus in Women: From Puberty to Menopause

Lupus in women occurs much more often than in men. There are many reasons this occurs. Also, lupus

Illustration of collecting a urine sample

How to collect a urine sample properly for testing (UPDATED January 2025)

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

Hair and Skin Problems in Lupus [Feb 2025 Update]

Most individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience skin involvement or hair loss. There are many different types

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

Lupus and Vaccines: Shingles, Shingrix, and Zostavax

Knowing how lupus and vaccines interact is important since infections are one of the top two causes of

Diagnosing Lupus

Protect yourself from medical mistakes. A study by a large group of international lupus experts (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics or SLICC) showed that 6% of their systemic lupus erythematosus patients were ANA negative at the time of diagnosis. With

FOLLOW US

Dr. Don Thomas, MD

Most Popular