The Lupus Book

Lupus, a disease of the immune system, can be quite deadly, claiming the lives of thousands of patients yearly. Dr. Daniel J. Wallace is one of the world's leading authorities on this disorder, an eminent clinician who has treated over 3,000 lupus patients, the largest such practice in America. His The Lupus Book, originally published in 1995, immediately established itself as the most readable and helpful book on the disease.

Now Dr. Wallace has once again completely revised The Lupus Book, incorporating a wealth of new information. This Sixth Edition discusses new drug information and newly discovered information about the pathology of the diseaseall laid out in user-friendly language that any patient could understand. In particular, Wallace discusses the first drug for lupus to be approved by the FDAbelimumab (Benlysta)as well as other drugs in clinical trials. Readers will also discover fully updated sections on the science of lupus and breakthroughs in research including: genetics, microbiome, and clinical trial methodology. And as in past editions, the book provides absolutely lucid answers to such questions as: What causes lupus? How and where is the body affected? Can a woman with lupus have a baby? And how can one manage this disease? Indeed, Dr. Wallace has distilled his extensive experience, providing the most up-to-date information on causes, prevention, cure, exercise, diet, and many other important topics. There is also a glossary of terms and an appendix of lupus resource materials compiled by Dr. Wallace.

Over 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The new Sixth Edition offers these patients and their families an abundance of reliable, information that will help them manage the disease and live a happier life.

Table of Contents
Contents
Preface to the Sixth Edition
Part I Introduction and Definitions
1. Why Write a Book on Lupus?
2. What Is Lupus?
3. The History of Lupus
4. Who Gets Lupus?
Part II Inflammation and Immunity
5. The Body's Protection Plan
6. The Enemy Is Our Cells
Part III What Causes Lupus?
7. The Genetic Connection
8. Environmental Villains
9. Drugs That May Cause Lupus or Produce Flare-ups
Part IV Where and How Can the Body Be Affected by Lupus?
10. History, Symptoms, and Signs
11. Must We Draw Blood?
12. Reactions of the Skin: Rashes and Discoid Lupus
13. Why the Aches? Arthritis, Muscles, and Bone
14. Pants and Pulses: The Lungs and Heart
15. Heady Connections: The Nervous System and Behavioral Changes
16. The Head, Neck, and Sjögren's Syndrome
17. What about Hormones?
18. The Impact of Lupus on the GI Tract and Liver
19. Lupus in the Kidney and Urinary Tract
20. The Blood and Lymphatic Systems
21. Why Do Blood Clots Develop?
22. Lupus through the Ages: Lupus in Children and the Elderly
23. Is It Really Lupus?
Part V The Management of Lupus Erythematosus
24. How to Treat Lupus with Physical Measures
25. You Can Help Conquer Lupus
26. Taming Inflammation: Anti-inflammatory Therapies
27. Big Guns and Magic Bullets: Disease-Modifying Drugs
28. Other Options: Treatments Occasionally Used to Manage Lupus
29. Fighting Infections, Allergies, and Osteoporosis
30. Can a Woman with Lupus Have a Baby?
31. Economic Impact of Lupus in the United States and Disability Issues
32. What's the Prognosis?
33. Clinical Trials, New Therapies for Lupus, and Future Directions
GLOSSARY
APPENDIX: Lupus Resource Materials
INDEX

Daniel J. Wallace, MD is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His many books include All About Fibromyalgia and All About Osteoarthritis (with Nancy Lane).