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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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Lennon Wall graffiti in Prague Czech Republic that says Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Lupus and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”

What do the following have in common? Lupus A drawing by a 3-year-old Julian Lennon Flowers and gardening
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!
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
Low vitamin D levels can make lupus worse

Lupus and Vitamin D Advice: Can be lowest in women of color

Lupus and vitamin D in Women of Color. Why and what to do- “Ask Dr. T!” question of
Stomach pain in lupus

Lupus Stomach Medications: Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Gastrointestinal symptoms and problems are common in lupus patients and can significantly impact their quality of life. In
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
Malaria organism infecting a red blood cell

How does Hydroxychloroquine work for Lupus (SLE)? [JUN 2024 Update]

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

Intravenous Immunoglobulin: IVIG for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A drug made from up to 100,000 healthy volunteers! Intravenous (IV) means getting a medicine delivered into your
Woman using eye drops for dry eyes and lupus

Dry Eyes and Lupus: Eye Doctor Tips and Tricks

Dry eyes are very common in lupus patients, especially those with Sjogren’s disease. Around 25 to 30% of
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
Vitamin D supplement preventing disease: How to prevent lupus

How to Prevent Lupus & Other Autoimmune Diseases [January 2025]

This blog post will give advice on how to prevent lupus and other autoimmune diseases. I will first
Word Symptoms in Scrabble Tiles

Early Signs of Lupus: What to Look For

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. Early diagnosis is key
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
Dr. Don Thomas explains ANA negative lupus

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
salmon for anti-inflammatory diet with vegetables

Lupus Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Lifestyle changes advice [January 2025]

Eating a diet high in foods that decrease inflammation while avoiding or minimizing foods that increase inflammation can
Lupus related hair loss

Hair and Skin Problems in Lupus

Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, affects multiple organs, including the skin. This article explores the nuanced relationship between
A lupus Coombs test being done in a lab

Understanding the Lupus Coombs Test: Know your labs! (October 2024 Update)

The Direct Coombs test is also known as the direct Coombs antibody test and the direct antiglobulin test
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
bacteria in urine bacteriuria can cause lupus flares

Bacteria in Urine Increases Lupus Flares

If we prevent bacteria in urine (bacteriuria), could we decrease lupus flares? Bacteria in urine was found in
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
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
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
Dr. Donald Thomas gets the COVID-19 vaccine

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
blocks of letters that spell stress and wellness

Lupus and Stress Management: How to lessen stress

Lupus and Stress Management: The Science of Stress and the Immune System The video below goes over lupus
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
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
Illustration of a clipboard, doctor and thyroid

Lupus and Thyroid Medications

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system can attack the thyroid gland as well as the
Childhood stress and lupus question answered by Dr. Donald Thomas

Childhood Trauma, PTSD, Racism, Stress, and Lupus

Multiple studies show that stress and trauma increase the risk of developing lupus as well as causing lupus
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
Questions about lupus treatments and living with lupus

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
Malar butterfly rash symptom of lupus

How to Diagnose Lupus: 10 Symptoms (October 2024 Update)

Lupus is a challenging autoimmune disease that can appear differently in each individual. Early diagnosis is crucial for
Anatomical drawing of a kidney with artery, vein, and ureter

Benlysta for lupus nephritis: Studies show it is effective

Hot off the press SEP 2020! The future is very bright for lupus treatments!     The future
Root cause of lupus research

New Research May Have Identified a Root Cause of Lupus

Lupus, a complex autoimmune disease, affects over a million people in the U.S. Researchers at Northwestern Medicine and
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
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
Woman holding thermometer to head during what is a lupus flare

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

Most people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) will experience a lupus flare. Many have multiple flares. In this
Black middle aged black doctor giving a heavy set white woman with lupus a flu shot

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
Person with lupus spreading COVID-19 by not wearing a mask

Super spreader COVID-19: Infections surge big due to this [Updated]

Super spreader COVID-19: New study shows the answers in the Annals of Internal Medicine Wear a mask to
A mask, needle, and syringe as symbols to protect from COVID-19

What is Evusheld and Who Should Get Evusheld: Prevent COVID-19 [OCT 2022 Update]

What is Evusheld? It is a treatment to prevent COVID-19 infections. It is not a vaccine. It is
Increase energy with lupus

Increase Energy with Lupus

Living with lupus often comes with the challenge of persistent fatigue, a common symptom of the disease. This
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
White woman doctor giving female lupus patient a flu shot

10 Reasons Not to Get a Flu Shot: Learn the Truth Now!

10 Reasons Not to Get a Flu Shot: The Flu Shot is a Life-Saver for Lupus Patients, Other
Asian woman doctor reading a chest x-ray showing pneumonia

New Pneumonia, Shingles, RSV, and Hepatitis Vaccine Recommendations [2024]

Centers for Disease Control 2024 Vaccine Recommendations In 2024 came out with its new vaccine recommendations. In this
Lupus and gastro issues

Lupus and Gastro Issues

Lupus and its treatments can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the intestines. Understanding the
Pregnant black woman's stomach with a fetus ultrasound at image for having a successful pregnancy with lupus

How to Have a Successful Pregnancy with Lupus [January 2025 Update)

A successful pregnancy is possible in most women who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with proper preparation and
Model of the kidney

What to Know about a Lupus Nephritis Urine Sample [UPDATED June 2024]

Lupus patients should provide a urine sample regularly to see if there is possible inflammation of the kidneys
Purple ribbon symbol for lupus flares

Improve Your Life: A Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flare Test

Revolutionary New Lab Test: Predicts if a lupus patient will have a systemic lupus erythematosus flare! A systemic
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies and lupus

Anticardiolipin Antibodies and Lupus

The immune system of many lupus patients produce anticardiolipin antibodies. These antibodies, known for their connection to various
Effects of lupus on the body

Effects of lupus on the body

The effects of lupus on the body, a complex autoimmune disease, are diverse and affect people in unpredictable
Proteinuria in lupus nephritis. This is what a kidney looks like

Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis: Now in a nutshell in this video [FEB 2023 UPDATE]

Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis in easy-to-understand language: FEB 2023 Update: See the 1st video below. It goes over the