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Symptoms In Lupus

Early signs of lupus in females

Early Signs of Lupus in Females

November 2, 2023

Lupus, an autoimmune disease, predominantly affects women. Around 90% of lupus patients are women, while 10% are men. This post covers the early signs of lupus in females.

Lupus symptoms in women also vary depending upon their time in life, …

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Stomach pain in lupus

Lupus Stomach Medications: Gastrointestinal Symptoms

October 17, 2023

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and problems are common in lupus patients and can significantly impact their quality of life. This article will explore lupus stomach medications and strategies for managing GI symptoms effectively.

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NOTE: Johns Hopkins University Press, publisher of 

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A lupus patient with Jaccoud

Lupus Tendonitis: A Common Cause of Pain in Lupus Patients [August 2026 Update]

September 5, 2021

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

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Text stating Mitochondria is the Powerhouse of the Cell a cause of fatigue in lupus

Fatigue in Lupus and Sjogren’s [March 2025 Update]

May 6, 2021

Fatigue is one of the most common and disabling symptoms affecting individuals living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fortunately, there are ways to treat it. This article discusses how to treat lupus fatigue and includes insightful research into why SLE …

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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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Type 1 interferon cytokines are inhibited by the anifrolumab FDA approval drug

Anifrolumab FDA Approval to Treat Systemic Lupus [Saphnelo February 2025 Update]

Anifrolumab (Saphnelo) is the 2nd FDA-approved biologic to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The first biologic was belimumab
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
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
Benlysta During Pregnancy - photo of pregnant woman

Benlysta During Pregnancy: Safe and Effective [UPDATE July 2024]

July 2024 Update on Benlysta in Pregnancy A review in the British Medical Journal discussed the recent studies
Lupus patient getting intravenous immunoglobulin

Intravenous Immunoglobulin: IVIG for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Immune globulins (also called immunoglobulins) are antibodies. A large number of antibodies given in IVIG for systemic lupus
Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Blood Clots in Lupus

Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Blood Clots in Lupus

People with lupus face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots,
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
shingles on the back of a white person

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
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
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
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
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
Covid Study Flyer

COVID Vaccine and Lupus: Join in a Research Study Now

How the COVID Vaccine and Lupus Interact is Important to Figure Out: Consider Joining this NIH Research Study
treatment of lupus showing a lot of pills tablets and capsules

Treatment of Lupus: Best Practices & Guidelines [May 2025 Update]

The treatment of lupus has improved significantly over the past decade. Most patients can expect to go into
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
Lupus and antimalarials

Lupus and Antimalarials

Lupus and antimalarials share a surprising and life-saving connection. While antimalarials were first used to fight malaria, doctors
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
Map of the USA showing shortage of rheumatologists for lupus patients

Colossal Shortage of Rheumatologists is Here: Panic?

The Worldwide Shortage of Rheumatologists: Why Wait Times Are Getting Worse Table of Contents: The Decline in Rheumatology
Woman using eye drops for dry eyes and lupus

Dry Eyes and Lupus: Eye Doctor Tips and Tricks [January 2026 Update]

Dry eyes are very common in lupus patients, especially those with Sjogren’s disease. Around 25% of systemic lupus
dry eyes in lupus

Lupus and Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are very common in lupus patients, especially those with Sjogren’s disease. Around 25 to 30% of
Lupus and purple spots on skin

Lupus and Purple Rashes

What Are Purple Rashes on the Skin? Purple rashes on the skin can signal a variety of health
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 » Symptoms In
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
blocks of letters that spell stress and wellness

Lupus and Stress Management: How to lessen stress [January 2025 Update]

Lupus and Stress Management: The Science of Stress and the Immune System January 2025 Update: Mounting evidence that
Normal SD-OCT in a lupus patient

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! Read more about
Sunscreen on two fingers of a hand showing how much sunscreen to use for sun protection in lupus

Sun Protection for Lupus Made Simple [August 2026]

Sun protection for lupus is one of its most essential treatments. It is so important I include sunscreen
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 gastro issues

Lupus and Gastro Issues [March 2025 Update]

Lupus and its treatments can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the intestines. Mouth sores
Woman who has a malar rash (butterfly rash) due to lupus with lupus disease activity

How Severe is Your Lupus? Use a Lupus Severity Index [May 2025 Update)

Our goal in treating systemic lupus erythematosus is complete remission while using medications that include hydroxychloroquine (if not
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Peptic Ulcer Disease are common in lupus

GERD and Peptic Ulcer Disease in Lupus

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Peptic Ulcer Disease are common digestive problems that many people with systemic lupus erythematosus
Lupus Prognosis, Special Populations, and Health Care Disparities

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
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
Lupus related hair loss

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
Effects of lupus on the body

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
exercise and lupus photo of a woman on a stationary bicycle

Weight Loss & Exercise in Lupus: the science & patient view [March 2025 Update]

Weight loss & exercise provide many benefits to lupus patients. Healthcare providers consider exercise as “free medication” with
itchy skin like happens with lupus rashes

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
Proteinuria in lupus nephritis. This is what a kidney looks like

Proteinuria in Lupus Nephritis: Video tips and the bottom line [March 2025 UPDATE]

When excessive protein leaks from the kidneys and into the urine, it is called proteinuria. Proteinuria in lupus
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!
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
Lupus in Children and Adolescents

Lupus in Children and Adolescents

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