Joint pain, arthritis, musculoskeletal

LATEST UPDATE: A nicely done study by Melles RB et al, FEB 2023, Hydroxychloroquine Dose and Risk for Incident Retinopathy A Cohort Study, resulted in this nice quote: “our findings suggest that, under current screening recommendations and …

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can go into a lupus remission on medications or treatment Lupus patient: “My doctor told me last week that she has seen lupus go away in some patients. She said she thinks I am one of …

Other Facts about DHEA and lupus – DHEA and lupus: DHEA stands for DeHydroEpiAndrosterone – It is produced by the adrenal glands – It is made from cholesterol (yes, cholesterol is a necessary …

Multiple studies show that stress and trauma increase the risk of developing lupus as well as causing lupus flares. QUESTION: "New research is showing that childhood trauma may contribute to the development of lupus? I read a study where those …

New research suggests itchy skin is a sign of active lupus. Most lupus experts also know this. However, many other doctors do not. That is why this research is so helpful. We do not want itchy lupus rashes to be …

What is the anti-SSA test? What the lab technician sees under the microscope when testing a patient for anti-SSA antibodies. These are human epithelial cells to which blood was added from a patient who has anti-SSA antibodies, proving that that …

IF YOU HAVE LUPUS OR ARE A CAREGIVER: Help current research on lupus by sharing your experiences with the Lupus Foundation of America by joining RAY (Research Accelerated by You) ​You can help with an easy online lupus research study!…

What do the following have in common? LupusA drawing by a 3-year-oldJulian LennonFlowers and gardening suppliesAlice in WonderlandPink Floyd They all are woven into the story of the Beatles’ famous song: Lucy in the Sky …

December 2022 update: Hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying agent for lupus (along with Benlysta). Antimalarial drugs can treat autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, Sjogren’s, and rheumatoid arthritis… ​ Here’s how! (described in easy to understand language) Malaria organism attaching …

If you are immunocompromised you should get a 5th COVID vaccine and Evusheld MoreThanLupus posted a Q and A. The answer is: The CDC now recommends that immunocompromised people should get a 5th COVID vaccine 4 months after your fourth …

Why do lupus patients need to give a clean catch urine sample every 3 months? Doing a clean catch urine sample wrong can cause false results Around 40% of systemic lupus erythematosus patients develop kidney inflammation (nephritis) and need to …

What was it like getting the COVID-19 vaccine? … and some advice for lupus patients     A rheumatology researcher becomes a research study participant for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine   Dr. Kathryn Dao, a rheumatologist in Dallas, Texas, wrote about what it …

Do you have lupus, then you absolutely want to learn about follow The Lupus Secrets so that you can learn practical tips for living with lupus? Do you know someone who has lupus? Are you a healthcare provider wanting to …

A lupus patient at Kelli Roseta’s “More Than Lupus” asks the question ” … is it safe to receive Botox or filler injections if you have lupus?” Thanks for posting this, More Than Lupus. My answer regarding …

Mitochondria found to be abnormal in SLE patient by the NIH. Exercise repaired the mitochondria and energy levels improved: see Hasni et al, below February 2023 update: In 2022, the National Institutes of Health showed that exercise repairs mitochondria and …

Research Article: Passive transfer of fibromyalgia symptoms from patients to mice Goebel A, Krock E, Gentry C, Israel MR, Jurczak A, Urbina CM, Sandor K, Vastani N, Maurer M, Cuhadar U, Sensi S, Nomura Y, Menezes J, Baharpoor A, Brieskorn …

If we prevent bacteria in urine (bacteriuria), could we decrease lupus flares? Bacteria in urine was found in a study to possibly increase flares in lupus patients. If this is true, then decreasing bacteria in the urine could possibly help …

Updated Part MARCH 2023: Ghalandari et al from the Netherlands reported their results of using Benlysta during pregnancy in the March edition of the journal Lupus. Benlysta During Pregnancy: Safe and Effective [UPDATE MARCH 2023] Can lupus patients get pregnant and …

UPDATE FEB 2023: Watch YouTube video about diagnosing lupus nephritis (LN) early, how it is diagnosed and what to do if you get LN. See the 1st video below with Dr. Donald Thomas, Aurinia, and Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus video below…

The causes of fatigue and dealing with autoimmune disease fatigue. ​ Tips on how to improve energy with Sjogren’s, lupus, and related disorders Fatigue is common in lupus This video discusses the causes of autoimmune disease fatigue and gives practical …

Lupus Nephritis Urine Samples: What They Tell Us A lupus nephritis urine sample is important for all SLE patients to give regularly. So, click on the video below to learn why giving a urine sample every 3 months is important …

Dr. Donald Thomas Answers Lupus Patients’ Questions on His Living With Lupus Blog: The Lupus Encyclopedia Watch this YouTube video — patients’ important questions are answered about living with lupus Dr. Donald Thomas’ Lupus Encyclopedia is a practical “living with …

The American College of Rheumatology Provides Guidance for stopping drugs to enhance the COVID vaccine for immunocompromised patients COVID-19 vaccine: Please get yours! Revised 9/6/21 with new drugs to stop for vaccines per revised ACR recommendations How should we deal …

CDC Study answers this question Please get your COVID-19 vaccine! We all would like life to go back to normal. The unvaccinated will be our major obstacle in reaching that goal. (and yes, that is my, and many others, unapologetic …

How to prevent and treat side effects from methotrexate: We have been using methotrexate to treat rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus since the 1990’s. It is generally a safe medication when used along with the other important …

Lupus and Stroke and Heart Attacks: A bigger problem than we thought! We have known for a long time that a big problem for SLE patients: lupus and stroke and heart attacks. Diabetes has been considered an important cause of …

The Latest Research Answers the Question: “Can discoid lupus turn into systemic lupus erythematosus?” Discoid lupus: note the round “disc” shape, the outer active inflamed border is pink, the central area has scar tissue “Can discoid lupus turn into systemic …

Research article shows that taking hydroxychloroquine decreases the risk of death by 83%: Impact of Antimalarial Adherence on Mortality Among Patients With Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Population-Based Cohort Study Hoque MR, Aviña-Zubieta JA, De Vera MA, Qian Y, …

UPDATED September 2021: I cannot wait to get my extra COVID vaccines … specifically my 3rd booster shot! 1/22/21 was a historical day for me! I got my 2nd Moderna vaccine! ​PLEASE… everyone… get yours as soon as you can!…

Kelli of “More Than Lupus” describes what she considers the best lupus books ​ What are your favorite lupus books? The best lupus books should deal with all aspects of lupus, evaluating the best medical evidence. They may …

Ask Dr. T Question about lupus diet and vegetarians Lupus and Vegetarian Diet? Eating a Vegetarian Diet can be Part of an Autoimmune Protocol (AI Protocol) There are studies showing that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce lupus …

Should We be Recommending the COVID-19 Vaccine for Lupus Patients?: Yes! What I tell my systemic lupus patients as of 12/18/20: 4:00 PM regarding getting a COVID-19 vaccine for lupus patients The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the …

The Autoimmune Protocol (AI protocol) is another term for the anti-inflammatory diet. The chart below was shown to help patients with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune Protocol (AI Protocol) used in 2020 rheumatoid arthritis study above The …

The interactions of hepatitis C and systemic lupus is strange, and hepatitis C can mimic lupus … read on! Hepatitis C is a virus that can attack the liver (called hepatitis) as well as numerous other organs of the body. …

Knowing how lupus and vaccines interact is important since infections are one of the top two causes of death and vaccines are instrumental in preventing infections. Most people realize how incredibly painful shingles is. However, many don’t realize just how …

1st drug ever FDA-approved to treat lupus nephritis ​Historic mile-stone! ​ December 16, 2020: The FDA approved on Wednesday DEC 16, 2020…  Benlysta for lupus nephritis as the first drug ever FDA-approved to treat lupus nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys).…

Read on: learn how you to figure out your lupus disease activity And why it is important Why measuring lupus disease activity is so important Our goal in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is to get it into remission and …

Do Flu Shots Cause Lupus Flares? Lupus flare after flu shot? Question of the day: Dr. Thomas, I have lupus and was told by another lupus patient that she gets a flare when she gets a flu shot. Do …

Lupus by Lupus Warrior and Lupus Fighter Shanelle Gabrielle “​I still have a purpose … A reason to smile … I’m still living my life with no regrets.” ​You think you own me Squeezed my life in your palms Taken …

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Results from 64,900 vaccines: How often are allergies and itching after COVID vaccine? Hives (urticaria) photo credit: James Heilman, MD, Wikipedia, “Hives” ​Journal of the American Medical Association Research Study: March 2021 (reference and link to the study are at …

  Will a COVID Booster Vaccine for Lupus Patients Increase Response Rates? We do not know, yet. However, the August 12, 2021 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine reported significant responses in immunosuppressed organ transplant patients. This gives …

Revolutionary New Lab Test: Predicts if a lupus patient will have a systemic lupus erythematosus flare! A systemic lupus erythematosus flare can be devastating, interfere with quality of life, and can even cause organ damage. Imagine if they can be …

What is Evusheld? It is a treatment to prevent COVID-19 infections. It is not a vaccine. It is made up of two different monoclonal antibodies.Evusheld reduces COVID-19 infections by 83%.Evusheld begins to wane after about 6 months. Therefore, …

Know your labs when you have lupus Chromatin is our DNA packaged up nice and neat with other proteins such as histone and RNA. It protects our DNA. Photo: at Wikipedia.com from the NIH Chromatin Antibody (Also called Anti-Chromatin Antibody; …

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THE VOTE IS IN! See the new book cover below 315 people voted for the new book cover on Reddit, lupusencyclopedia.com, FaceBook, Twitter, friends, family, and the expert chapter editors. The winner is:The purple cover with 162 out of …

Proton pump inhibitor-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus: Clinical characteristics and outcomes In this post we’ll cover subacute cutaneous lupus due to proton pump inhibitors (PPI-induced SCLE). Poh YJ, Alrashid A, Sangle SR, et al. Lupus. 2022;31(9):1078-1083. doi:10.1177/09612033221104237 Subacute cutaneous lupus …

Lupus and Stress Management: The Science of Stress and the Immune System The video below goes over lupus and stress management, while also discussing how stress affects the immune system adversely.The Lupus Foundation of America filed this video of …

How the COVID Vaccine and Lupus Interact is Important to Figure Out: Consider Joining this NIH Research Study The NIH is studying how the COVID vaccine and lupus interact. Please consider participating in this important research. You can also click …