Systemic Lupus Erythematosis

Understanding Lupus Hand Symptoms

January 13, 2025 ·

When doctors talk about lupus, the focus often lands on the kidneys. However, there’s one part of the body almost every lupus patient will face issues with: the hands. As a rheumatologist, I can tell you, the hands reveal so much and when you know what to look out for, you can alert your doc and together develop a plan.

Lupus Arthritis: Joint Pain and Beyond

It might not surprise you to know that joint pain is a part of lupus, as it is with most autoimmune conditions. More than 90% of lupus patients will experience some form of joint pain or arthritis. But when we hear “arthritis,” we tend to think of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), not lupus, and miss the nuances of lupus arthritis.

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Positive ANA Test: Lupus Symptoms & Next Steps

December 16, 2024 ·

If you’ve recently had an ANA (antinuclear antibody) test and are feeling a bit overwhelmed, you’re not alone. A positive ANA result can stir up a lot of questions and worries, especially when it comes to conditions like lupus.

What Does a Positive ANA Mean?

Just because your ANA test came back positive doesn’t automatically mean you have lupus. The ANA test is a tool that helps us understand more about your immune system, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

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Transform Your Autoimmune Health with Small Diet Changes

November 25, 2024 ·

Managing an autoimmune condition can be challenging, and one of the most common questions asked is, “What should I be eating?” It’s a great question, and one that shows you’re ready to take charge of your health. Let’s dive into how your diet can make a big difference when you’re living with an autoimmune disease.

The Role of Diet in Autoimmune Disease

When you’re dealing with an autoimmune disease, your immune system is on overdrive, causing inflammation throughout your body. Inflammation is a natural body response but becomes overdramatic and inappropriate in autoimmune disease, leading to a range of uncomfortable symptoms. That’s where diet comes in.

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Hospitalized with autoimmune disease

January 6, 2022 ·

The truth is, only a minority of patients with autoimmune disease will ever really need to put this information in action. When you are hospitalized with an autoimmune condition you feel scared and helpless. Knowing what to expect and how best to take care of yourself during and after your hospital stay BEFORE it ever happens is self-care every autoimmune patient needs.

Regardless of the incredible advancements we’ve made in rheumatology, sometimes the safest place for an autoimmune patient is the hospital. This could be to receive IV (intravenous) treatments, to undergo certain tests quickly or to stabilize and monitor worrisome vital signs. Autoimmune patients, in particular, can find themselves needing the hospital as there is a wide variety of symptoms possible.

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Discoid Lupus Explained

December 30, 2021 ·

Discoid lupus must be just like “regular” lupus, right? I mean, lupus is lupus, no? You’d think so, but like most things within Rheumatology, it rarely makes that much sense. When one speaks of “lupus” they are usually talking about SLE or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. SLE is a systemic (affects the entire body), autoimmune condition. Discoid Lupus, or DLE, is a condition solely of the skin. One can certainly have “discoid lesions” when they have SLE and we are always on alert for the development of SLE, but rest assured, they are two different entities.

The name “discoid” stems from the description of the typical rash seen with DLE: a disc shaped, red patch with a scale and with scaring. It is common to worry about “progression to SLE.” Thankfully, development of SLE is the exception, rather than the rule. Although dermatologists are often the main caregivers of DLE, a full evaluation by a rheumatologist can provide insight and peace of mind.

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