Lupus News & Features

A new study reveals how widespread the disease is in the United States.

A woman resigned to dialysis treatments three times a week gets a rare gift when a friend shows up at the hospital and asks, “Will you be my kidney sista?”

The greater the number of bad childhood experiences, the worse a patient's self-reported lupus activity, depression and overall health, a new study has found.

Comparing gut bacteria from lupus patients with bacteria from their healthy peers, scientists learned those with lupus had about five times more of the bacteria known as Ruminococcus gnavus.

But stress may trigger the reverse, researchers report

Studies find race, ethnicity, gender and even geography make a difference for this autoimmune disease

He's changed his lifestyle, not his work ethic, to manage the autoimmune disorder.

Certain cells seem to malfunction and create inflammation instead of fighting the disease, research say

As early as 12 weeks, checks can signal danger of complications for both mother and baby, study contends

But blacks, Hispanics face greater odds of complications than whites, though reasons why are unclear

Asians, Hispanics most likely to survive the autoimmune disease

Headache, seizures often lead doctors down the wrong path

Drugs that suppress the immune system make it harder to fight infection, study says

High blood pressure and steroid medication may worsen lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other organs.

Drugs can reduce symptoms of autoimmune disease, ward off serious complications

Study followed nearly 15,000 patients for 6 years

A drug related to thalidomide may be more potent and less toxic than thalidomide, which is often used to treat lupus skin conditions.

Karin Gelschus turned her life around when she changed her attitude about her chronic disease.

Aimee Copeland, the young Georgia woman battling infection with flesh-eating bacteria, reportedly has lupus. In this expert Q&A, rheumatologist Chaim Putterman discusses lupus and the risk of necrotizing fasciitis.

When lupus attacks the kidneys, the damage can be life-threatening. Now, updated guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology are aimed at identifying kidney involvement in lupus early and treating it aggressively to stop this damage in its tracks.

In the first study of its kind, high doses of vitamin D were safe and appeared to temper some of the destructive immune system responses believed to cause lupus.

In the WebMD Lupus Community, Christine Miserandino discusses work issues, the decision to seek disability, and the ins and outs of the application process.

WebMD discusses how chronic pain and fatigue associated with lupus can affect your sexual relationships -- and what to do about it.

WebMD discusses how to care for your skin and beauty with lupus.

WebMD talks about ways to combat lupus-related fatigue and also discusses some possible causes of lupus fatigue.