The Lupus Book: A Guide for Patients and Their Families - Hardcover

Daniel Wallace

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195084438 ISBN 13: 9780195084436

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1995

Synopsis

The symptoms are puzzling, intermittent, and frequently seem unrelated: mysterious rashes, sore joints, fatigue, headaches. It can take years to properly diagnose, often leaving its victims suffering not only from the disease, but from the uncertainty about whether they have the disease and from the not-insignificant problem of finding a physician to treat them. The disease is lupus, which, simply put, is what happens to the body when it becomes allergic to itself. It is quite widespread and it is highly deadly, claiming the lives of thousands of patients yearly.
Now patients and their families can turn to The Lupus Book, a clear, reassuring guide that explains virtually every aspect of the disease. Written by Daniel J. Wallace, M.D., one of the world's leading experts on the subject, The Lupus Book is packed with useful, easy-to-understand information and practical guidance for the sufferer. Here the reader will discover clear descriptions of the symptoms that most commonly afflict victims of lupus, a helpful survey of all aspects of diagnosis--from why the disease is so difficult to recognize to the latest, most innovative tests--and background information on the cause of the disease, which researchers now believe is genetic in origin. Wallace shows how lupus may affect different organ systems in the body, including the brain, heart, and lungs; he offers well-informed advice on how patients can work with their doctors to take an active role in fighting the disease through exercise, diet, and medication; and perhaps most important, he answers the questions he is most often asked by his patients, including queries on prevention, cure, sun exposure, pregnancy, and many other concerns. Throughout the book, Wallace reveals a talent for communicating difficult concepts to the general reader as he illustrates his discussion with numerous anecdotes culled from his years of clinical experience (he has treated over one thousand lupus patients).
Nearly one million people suffer from lupus in the United States alone. More common than leukemia, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy combined, lupus is a pervasive and little- understood condition. With The Lupus Book in hand, lupus sufferers as well as their families, friends, and physicians have a reliable guide that will answer their questions and help them to better manage their day-to-day fight against this debilitating disease.

About this title

About the Author

About the Author:
Daniel J. Wallace, M.D., currently heads the largest clinical practice in the country devoted to the treatment of patients with lupus. World renowned for his expertise on the subject, he is Clinical Chief of Rheumatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA. He is also co-author of the leading textbook on lupus, DuBois' Lupus Erythematosus.

Reviews

Nearly one million people in the United States suffer from lupus erythematosus, which develops when the body becomes allergic to itself. Because of the difficulty of diagnosing lupus, several years may elapse before an accurate diagnosis is made, resulting in mental anguish and damage to vital organs. By increasing public awareness of this disease, Wallace, a world authority on lupus, hopes to effect earlier diagnosis. In a lay companion to the renowned Dubois' Lupus Erythematosus (Williams & Wilkins, 1992. 4th ed.), which he coauthored, Wallace thoroughly explains the body's immunological processes and the causes, diagnosis, management, manifestations, prognosis, and genetic risks of lupus. Containing detailed illustrations and charts similar to those found in medical texts, The Lupus Book is written for allied health professionals as well as patients at the college reading level. Several other current books offer simpler explanations and more easily understood charts while placing a greater emphasis on coping skills; Mark Horowitz's Coping with Lupus (Penguin, 1994) and Sheldon Blau's Living with Lupus (LJ 11/1/93) are among the best. Wallace's book is recommended for those who require a detailed explanation of the disease.?Mary Prottsman, Medical Lib., Enterprise, Ala.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195084438
• ISBN 13: 9780195084436
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272