It is rare that we have the opportunity to get an inside look into how a chronic condition operates within the body. Most of these illnesses exhibit severe, debilitating symptoms, but have no concrete cause. We are often left to opine as to whether the disease is caused by biological, genetic, or environmental factors. What makes the lack of a cause so challenging is that it directly impacts treatment options, as well as potential cures. Doctors and researchers are left to treat the symptoms rather than honing in on the underlying cause. Lupus is one of the conditions that appears to have mysterious beginnings and is often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic those of other health problems. Researchers have recently made new strides in recognizing the mechanisms behind lupus, however, that may change not only its diagnosis, but its treatment as well.
Read more on A Closer Look at Lupus: Scientists hone in on how Lupus operates within the body…
Filed under Lupus - research by on May 26th, 2010. Comment. 
Sometimes determining why a disease occurs requires following one lead after another until all possibilities have been exhausted. In the case of lupus, doctors and researchers have understood for years that the autoimmune disease results from the immune system attacking itself. How and why this occurred, however, was more of a mystery. One factor that influences this immune system disruption is B cell activities. These B cells traditionally produce antibodies that fight off microorganisms and protect the body from illness and disease. In those individuals with autoimmune diseases, these B cells become dangerous to the body, breaking down tissue and attacking the immune system. What doctors and researchers wanted to know is why this occurs and what triggers these B cells to act out of the ordinary.
Read more on Researchers find answers as to why the immune system attacks itself in Lupus patients…
Filed under Lupus - research by on May 25th, 2010. Comment.
Most diseases and illnesses are likely to impact a certain group of individuals more than others, such as fibromyalgia, which affects more women than men. The autoimmune disease Lupus is one such disease that claims more people of Asian and African descent as sufferers when compared with Caucasians. But, why there is a higher risk for these individuals has been largely unexplained. That may now change, as a group of British scientists have conducted a study that appears to conclude that some individuals carry a gene that may raise their risk of lupus, while at the same time makes the individual more resistant to contracting malaria.
Read more on Interesting research makes connection between Lupus and Malaria…
Filed under Lupus - research by on Apr 29th, 2010. Comment.
It has been said that your eyes are the window to your soul. It has also been noted that the state of your gums and teeth tell a lot about your overall heart health. Now, studies are showing that your nose may in fact be the tunnel into the depths of your immune system. Because your sense of smell is intricately tied to the central nervous system and various areas of the brain, having a decreased ability to smell has been linked to various immune-related disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease. New research is indicating that olfactory dysfunction may also be a predictor in lupus as well.
Read more on Is there a relationship between sense of smell and Lupus?…
Filed under Lupus - research by on Apr 16th, 2010. Comment.
One of the most unique manifestations of lupus is in the form of skin rashes and scarring. It occurs due to the fact that the body’s immune system is in overdrive, causing inflammation and damage to the skin, as well as to other organs. In fact, approximately eighty-five percent of people with lupus eventually develop skin rashes, hair loss, or other skin involvement. It can be uncomfortable, painful, and can cause a great deal of interference with a person’s daily life – including work activity. A recent study now shows that individuals with lupus who smoke have an
even higher incidence of skin damage. This simply reaffirms the fact that smoking can be detrimental to your health, and can only worsen any health condition such as lupus.
Filed under Hearing strategies, Lupus - research, lupus symptoms by on Mar 31st, 2010. Comment.
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy;” “Like Water off a Duck’s Back;” “Every Cloud has a Silver Lining.” We have all heard these idioms at some point in our lives, directing us to look on the “sunny side of the street,” rather than constantly thinking about the troubles at hand. Most recent medical research has given credence to meditating on these ideas, as stress appears to be one of the largest risk factors for developing and agitating chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, arthritis, and gastrointestinal disorders. Now, a new study, conducted by a team of Spanish researchers, reveals that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment option for those suffering with autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
Read more on Cognitive behavioral therapy an effective treatment option for Lupus…
Filed under Lupus - research, lupus treatment by on Mar 11th, 2010. Comment.
Many chronic illnesses and diseases are often linked with other debilitating conditions. For instance, it was recently uncovered that people suffering with migraines were also at an increased risk for developing multiple sclerosis. It appears that whatever triggers the primary disease also plays a role in the development of secondary conditions. A new study, led by researchers in Australia and the United Kingdom, found that one of those links exists between lupus and cardiovascular disease. Further, it appears that the cause of the link has to do with the primary cause of lupus.
Read more on Link exists between Lupus and cardiovascular disease…
Filed under Lupus - research by on Mar 5th, 2010. Comment.
Last week we discussed how kidney disease often develops in those suffering from lupus. Specifically, we addressed how the kidney disease develops and how the inflammation of lupus may play a role. Now, a new study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center focuses on a urine test that may be able to detect kidney disease in its early stages. The researchers believe that the current findings could pinpoint kidney disease more accurately than the current tests being used and allow for faster treatment options.
Read more on Researchers developing a way to test for kidney disease in Lupus patients…
Filed under Lupus - medical developments, Lupus - research by on Feb 18th, 2010. Comment.
We all know that physical activity is important for our overall health, but now a study is showing just how vital activity is to those who live with lupus. MedPage is reporting that low levels of physical activity in women with lupus are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. It has long been known that lupus sufferers are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than those without lupus, and it is often the leading cause of death among these individuals before the age of fifty. Moreover, both lupus and heart disease are two disabilities for which people have to seek social security disability benefits due to their devastating side effects. Now there is some hope, however, that an increase in physical activity will positively impact each of these conditions.
Filed under Lupus - research by on Feb 12th, 2010. Comment.
Those suffering with lupus know that there are many problematic conditions that can arise because of the disease which affect other parts of the body, such as organs, joints, and muscles. One of these complications is kidney disease, which is common and occurs in many patients with lupus. A new disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for a particular type of lupus-related kidney disease has recently been discovered, leading researchers to look at different links between the two conditions. A study conducted at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York found that rather than trying to block inflammation, which is the standard treatment practice for lupus-related kidney disease, doctors may want to instead target the macrophages, which are specific types of white blood cells involved with the disease.
Filed under Lupus - research by on Feb 6th, 2010. Comment.
