A Conroe TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist helps clients live a comfortable life with lupus. For those currently suffering from rheumatology should get in touch with Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today. Waiting for the symptoms to clear could lead to these getting worse and can result in irreversible damage.

We dedicate our energy to treating clients with rheumatologic illnesses. Our team diagnoses and treats this autoimmune disease with the highest level of care possible. Even more, our clinic has several research studies that patients can take part in. These research studies are great as they help improve medical treatment options and medical advice when it comes to rheumatologic diseases.

What is Lupus?

Systematic lupus erythematosus, also referred to as simply lupus, is a chronic disease that affects several parts of the body. Lupus can cause inflammation in several areas of the body, including skin, joints, and organs. One thing to note is that every lupus case varies. For example, flares, while a common occurrence, will vary case by case. When minimally active, the disease is known as remission.

Depending on the case, lupus can affect organs such as the kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs. Common symptoms of lupus include weight loss, fever, and fatigue. There are many other signs to look out for, though, such as:

• Pain and swelling in joints
• Headaches
• Swelling in areas such as the feet, legs, and hands
• Pain in the chest areas when breathing deeply
• Hair loss
• Fingers turning blue or white in cold weather
• Mouth or nose sores

Advancements in the medical field have made patient’s lives much easier and longer. With that being said, the exact cause for lupus is unknown. As an autoimmune disease, lupus causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues. When suffering from lupus, your immune system takes part in the attack of the healthy tissue. This is why lupus is known as a very dangerous disease, and inflammation can become extremely severe.

About Our Conroe TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist

Diagnosing lupus can be very difficult, due to the various symptoms to look out for. An effective way of diagnosing lupus is through blood tests. Moreover, there are specific blood tests that are more effective than others, ASA being one of the best tests around.

Our very own Dr. Brionez has been diagnosing and treating lupus for over ten years. She completed her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University. Following that, she attended Baylor College of Medicine, where she completed her Doctor of Medicine.

To add to that, Dr. Brionez finished her fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She then became board-certified in internal medicine in 2007. She became board-certified in rheumatology in 2009. Ever since Dr. Brionez has been in the field working with patients suffering from all types of rheumatology illnesses.

Diagnosing Lupus

Blood tests are an effective way of diagnosing lupus. When patients are diagnosed with the disease, they have several options when it comes to alleviating symptoms in order to live a comfortable life. As a chronic disease, lupus has no cure.

Generally speaking, lupus cases can be controlled through a number of medications. As aforementioned, the recent advancements in medical treatments have made living with lupus much more comfortable than in previous years. With our team of dedicated professionals, you can be sure that you’ll receive the best treatments available.

Lupus Research

Through our research studies, we keep learning more and more about the ins and outs of this disease and how it affects areas such as the skin, joints, and organs. Furthermore, the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs are just a few of the organs affected by the disease.

Research shows that lupus is more prevalent in females going through puberty. Another research-backed number is that 20 percent of lupus patients are children or teenagers. As each case is different, patients can range widely from one patient to another.

Treating Lupus

Although lupus doesn’t have a cure currently, there are several ways to go about treating the symptoms. With that being said, there is still lots of work to be done. Currently, there are three different types of medication for lupus. The three options are antimalarial drugs, corticosteroids, and biologics.

Antimalarial drugs are the most common of the three. These drugs are also recommended for all lupus patients. Antimalarial drugs are excellent choices for the treatment of the mouth, nose sores, arthritis, fatigue, rashes, and more.

Another way for patients to find comfort with there lupus is through corticosteroids. This option is oftentimes paired with immune suppressants to treat life-threatening issues related to lupus. Third on the list is biologics, which are the most recent treatment option for lupus patients. Approved in 2011 for adult medication and 2019 for children, biologics medication is another great choice.

While these medications are great for treating symptoms, they are not always enough. Lupus is a fatal disease, after all, which is why it’s important to find alternative treatment options. The treatments mentioned above are only meant to reduce symptoms and issues related to lupus. Fortunately, research studies such as SLE-BRAVE will pave the way for better treatment options in the future.

SLE-BRAVE

The SLE-BRAVE study will approximately last 14 months. The purpose of the study is to test if baricitnib, and investigational drug, and lupus therapy effective in fighting lupus. Patients currently being treated for lupus may be eligible to participate in the study. The goal of SLE-BRAVE is to help current and future patients in the ways they deal with the hardships of lupus.

During the study, the participants will take the medication orally every single day for an entire year. There are two groups that will participate, one with the actual medication and the other with a placebo. Neither the Conroe TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist nor the patient will be aware of what group they are part of.

Patients will then receive frequent check-ups with their study doctor. These visits will consist of checking weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature checks. Patients will be observed for how they respond to the drug.

Lupus Specialist in Conroe

If you’re currently looking for a Conroe TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist, get in touch with one of our friendly representatives. You can learn more about services by calling us at (281) 766-7886. In addition, you can get more information by visiting our services or research studies webpages. Don’t settle for less, and contact our Conroe TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist today.