About Lupus

Contents: What is lupus? What are the four types of lupus? What are the different types of cutaneous lupus? Who gets cutaneous lupus and how does it relate to systemic lupus? Is cutaneous lupus contagious? How is it diagnosed and treated? Tips and Advice In Conclusion What is lupus? Lupus is a widespread and chronic…

It is estimated that those with SLE have 8 times the risk for stroke compared to the general public.  The following describes what these risks entail and how you can reduce them as much as possible! Introduction What is stroke? What are the risk factors for stroke in individuals with SLE? How does stroke affect…

Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus May is National Lupus Awareness Month – a time for Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus and partnering organizations across the country to highlight the disease. May 10th is World Lupus Day bringing global awareness to this disease.  Lupus is a global health problem affecting millions of people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders and…

Contents: Introduction How is it diagnosed? What may be causing my mouth sores if it is not lupus? How are mouth sores treated? What can be done to help alleviate or prevent them How can my dentist help? In conclusion Introduction Much of the information about systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) focuses on how the disease affects…

Contents: Introduction What are the kidneys and what do they do? What are the symptoms of lupus nephritis and how do I recognize it? How does lupus nephritis get diagnosed? Once diagnosed, how is lupus nephritis treated? Can Lifestyle Changes Help Those With Lupus Nephritis? How Research is Providing Hope In Summary, by Dr. Donald…

Contents: Introduction Types of Doctors That Treat Lupus:      Dermatologist      Cardiologist      Clinical Immunologist      Endocrinologist      Family Doctor      Gastroenterologist      Hematologist      Nephrologist      Neurologist      Perinatologist      Psychologist      Pulmonologist      Rheumatologist      Social Worker In Conclusion…

INTRODUCTION Recently, there has been an influx of research about stem cell therapies being used as a potential treatment for SLE and other lupus overlap diseases.  At Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus, we have received several inquiries regarding this new therapy, and deemed it responsible to clarify (due to its experimental and somewhat controversial nature) what stem…

Contents: What is Plaquenil? Other than Plaquenil, what are the other antimalarial drugs? Why are antimalarial drugs used to treat lupus? How do antimalarial drugs work to control lupus symptoms? What should I keep in mind when taking antimalarial drugs?  How to use Plaquenil What are the possible side effects of antimalarial drugs? Can I…

Two Scenarios SCENARIO ONE: Sarah’s heart is racing as she sits in her doctor’s office awaiting her test results.   The visible facial rash and joint pain that appeared after her baby was born have been extremely challenging to live with.  The answers to what seem like months of waiting, months of referrals, and months of…

The Use of Low-Dose Naltrexone for Lupus and Other Overlap Conditions WHAT IS LDN? Low-dose naltrexone or LDN is a medication that is getting more attention because of preliminary research showing promise for use with diseases like multiple sclerosis, some cancers, HIV/AIDS and other chronic pain conditions.  Over the last several months, we, at Kaleidoscope…