The Lupus Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Families

by Donald E. Thomas Jr. MD FACP FACR

Overview

People who have lupus need this book to stay as healthy as possible.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that can affect any system and organ in the body. For the 1.4 million people in the United States who have lupus, an overactive immune system senses that different parts of the body do not belong, and it attacks these parts. The immune system may strike the cells that line the joints or tendons, for example, causing pain and swelling. An incredibly complex disease, lupus must be properly treated for the optimal health and well-being of the person who has it.

The Lupus Encyclopedia is an authoritative compendium that provides detailed explanations of every body system potentially affected by the disease, along with practical advice about coping. People with lupus, their loved ones, caregivers, and medical professionals—all will find here an invaluable resource. Illustrated with photographs, diagrams, and tables, The Lupus Encyclopedia explains symptoms, diagnostic methods, medications and their potential side effects, and when to seek medical attention. Dr. Donald Thomas provides information for women who wish to become pregnant and advises readers about working with a disability, complementary and alternative medicine, infections, cancer, and a host of other topics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421409849
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	06/23/2014
Series:	A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book
Pages:	912
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Donald E. Thomas, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR (GREENBELT, MD), is in private practice at Arthritis and Pain Associates of Prince Georges County. He is a clinical associate professor at the Uniformed Services University and teaches rheumatology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Sjögren’s Foundation.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
List of Tables
Foreword, by George C. Tsokos, MD
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I: Definitions, Causes, and Diagnosis of Autoimmune Disease
1. What Is Lupus and How Is It Diagnosed?
2. The Other Systemic Autoimmune Diseases
3. What Causes Lupus?
4. The Meaning of All Those Test Results
Part II: How Lupus Affects the Body
5. How SLE Directly Affects the Body
6. Constitutional Symptoms
7. The Musculoskeletal System
8. Skin and Mucous Membranes
9. Blood and Lymph Systems
10. The Respiratory System
11. The Heart and Blood Vessels
12. The Urinary System
13. The Nervous System
14. The Exocrine Gland System
15. The Digestive System
16. Eyes
17. The Endocrine System
18. The Reproductive System and Pregnancy
19. Special Populations and Surgery
20. Prognosis
Part III: Other Complications of Lupus and Their Treatments
21. Heart Attacks and Strokes
22. Infections
23. Cancer and SLE
24. Osteoporosis
25. Avascular Necrosis of Bone
26. Adrenal Insufficiency
27. Fibromyalgia
28. Gastroesophageal Reflux and Stomach Ulcers
Part IV: Treatment of Lupus
29. General Treatment of Lupus
30. Anti-Malarials
31. Steroids
32. Immunosuppressants
33. Biologic Agents
34. Benlysta: The First FDA-Approved Drug for Lupus in More Than Fifty Years
35. Other Therapies for SLE
36. Prescription Pain Medicines
37. Future Treatments for SLE
38. Nonmedical Therapies for Lupus
39. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Part V: Practical Matters
40. Talking to Your Doctor and Deciphering Symptoms
41. Becoming Pregnant, Breast-Feeding, and Using Contraception
42. Health Insurance and Affording Healthcare
43. Working and Dealing with Disability
44. The Lupus Secrets Checklist
Patient Resources
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

from the Foreword by George C. Tsokos

People who have lupus and their primary care doctors will find in this book all the information they need.

George C. Tsokos

The person who has lupus and their primary care doctor will find in this book all the information they need.

Daniel J. Wallace MD FACP

An extremely thorough and readable volume reflecting enormous amounts of time, effort, and research.

Daniel J. Wallace

An extremely thorough and readable volume reflecting enormous amounts of time, effort, and research.

From the Publisher

People who have lupus and their primary care doctors will find in this book all the information they need.
—from the Foreword by George C. Tsokos, MD, Harvard Medical School

Finally, an expert clinician who can explain a complicated medical condition using simple conversational English without glossing over important details or talking down to the reader. The information will be clear to anyone with a high school education and will also be helpful for medical professionals. I will be recommending this book to my patients with lupus and to anyone who wants to understand this illness better.
—Joan T. Merrill, MD, Head, Clinical Pharmacology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and Medical Director, Lupus Foundation of America

An extremely thorough and readable volume reflecting enormous amounts of time, effort, and research.
—Daniel J. Wallace, MD, FACP, FACR, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, author of The Lupus Book: A Guide for Patients and Their Families

Joan T. Merrill

Finally, an expert clinician who can explain a complicated medical condition using simple conversational English without glossing over important details or talking down to the reader. The information will be clear to anyone with a high school education and will also be helpful for medical professionals. I will be recommending this book to my patients with lupus and to anyone who wants to understand this illness better.

Editorial Reviews

A wealth of detail on the many ways lupus affects the human body, the various related treatment options, a range of patient resources for support, and more . . . a caring, comprehensive guide to understanding and coping with lupus.
—Library Journal

The Lupus Encyclopedia is [a] carefully-researched, easily-understood and comprehensive book. It is, as it claims, an ENCYCLOPEDIA... If you [could have] only one book in your library about lupus, The Lupus Encyclopedia might well be it.
—The Lupus Guru

There is great depth and much to learn from reading and referring to this important book... This book should stand the test of time as one of the great books about this complex auto-immune disease.
—Lupus, the Adventure Between the Lines

I highly recommend The Lupus Encyclopedia. It's an amazing source of information, and I feel empowered by the fact that I have a reliable resource to turn to whenever I need it. No matter what your symptoms are or the level of severity, you owe it to yourself to get this book.
—Lupine Life

The Lupus Encyclopedia is a book that that every lupus patient should have in their home library. It's the most comprehensive lupus book out there, and is a valuable resource for anyone searching for a detailed and in-depth explanation of this complicated and mysterious disease.
—Sara Gorman , Despite Lupus

This is a highly readable medical text. . . This encyclopedia would be useful for public libraries, medical libraries, or academic libraries.
—Amy B. Parsons, American Reference Books Annual

. . . packed with facts, advice and encouragement. . .
—The Nursing Times

This title strikes a pitch perfect balance: on one side, there is information of value to those suffering from or caring for the condition, on the other, data suitable for clinicians seeking a better general understanding of the condition. This volume represents outstanding value for money and would be a useful addition to medical, healthcare and personal bookshelves.
—Reference Reviews

We can't imagine a more thorough, readable guide to lupus than this.
—Pain-Free Living

From the Publisher

The Lupus Encyclopedia is [a] carefully-researched, easily-understood and comprehensive book. It is, as it claims, an ENCYCLOPEDIA... If you [could have] only one book in your library about lupus, The Lupus Encyclopedia might well be it.

The Lupus Guru

This title strikes a pitch perfect balance: on one side, there is information of value to those suffering from or caring for the condition, on the other, data suitable for clinicians seeking a better general understanding of the condition. This volume represents outstanding value for money and would be a useful addition to medical, healthcare and personal bookshelves.

Reference Reviews

. . . packed with facts, advice and encouragement. . .

The Nursing Times

The Lupus Encyclopedia is a book that that every lupus patient should have in their home library. It's the most comprehensive lupus book out there, and is a valuable resource for anyone searching for a detailed and in-depth explanation of this complicated and mysterious disease.

Despite Lupus - Sara Gorman

This is a highly readable medical text. . . This encyclopedia would be useful for public libraries, medical libraries, or academic libraries.

American Reference Books Annual - Amy B. Parsons

There is great depth and much to learn from reading and referring to this important book... This book should stand the test of time as one of the great books about this complex auto-immune disease.

the Adventure Between the Lines Lupus

I highly recommend The Lupus Encyclopedia. It's an amazing source of information, and I feel empowered by the fact that I have a reliable resource to turn to whenever I need it. No matter what your symptoms are or the level of severity, you owe it to yourself to get this book.

Lupine Life

04/01/2014
Treat your cold with echinacea, and you just might make your lupus worse. That's just one of the "secrets" that Thomas, a practicing physician and academic (medicine, Uniformed Services Univ. of the Health Sciences; rheumatology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Ctr.) reveals in this rather daunting reference. In a 44-chapter narrative, Thomas offers both quick tips as well as deep-dive information on this incredibly complex autoimmune disease. He provides a wealth of detail on the many ways lupus affects the human body, the various related treatment options, a range of patient resources for support, and more. VERDICT This book supplies a caring, comprehensive guide to understanding and coping with lupus.—Judy Quinn, formerly with Library Journal

Library Journal

We can't imagine a more thorough, readable guide to lupus than this.

Pain-Free Living