A Spring TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist works with patients to treat conditions. Patients suffering from rheumatology should get in touch with Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms will clear up, as they could get worse and cause irreversible damage.

We dedicate our time and efforts to treating patients with rheumatologic conditions. We diagnose and treat these conditions. Furthermore, our clinic has several research studies that patients can take part in. Those with specific cases can take part in research studies to improve treatment options for these complex illnesses.

What is Lupus?

Systematic lupus erythematosus, or commonly referred to as lupus, is a chronic disease that affects several parts of the body. Lupus causes inflammation in areas like the skin, joints, and organs. Moreover, lupus varies in how it affects different people. Flares are a common occurrence and can vary in severeness. When the disease is minimally active, it is known as remission.

Lupus can affect organs like the kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs. Some common symptoms are weight loss, fever, and fatigue. Keep in mind that there are other signs of this disease. Here’s a full list of lupus symptoms:

• 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
• Cold causing fingers to turn blue or white
• Anemia
• Mouth or nose sores

Advancements in treatments 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. With lupus, the immune system as a whole takes part in the attack on healthy tissue. As such, lupus is well-known as extremely serious, and inflammation can be severe.

About Our Spring TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist

Lupus can be very difficult to diagnose, as there are various symptoms to look out for. The best way of diagnosing lupus is through blood tests. Furthermore, there are specific blood tests that are considered more important than others, ASA being one of them.

Our very own Dr. Brionez has over ten years of diagnosing and treating rheumatology patients, with lupus being a big part of her patients. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University. Following that, she attended Baylor College of Medicine, securing her Doctor of Medicine.

Furthermore, she completed her fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. In 2007, Dr. Brionez became board-certified in internal medicine and, later in 2009, became board-certified in rheumatology. Following this achievement, Dr. Brionez has been in the field of working on all types of rheumatology illnesses.

Diagnosing Lupus

As mentioned before, one of the more effective ways to diagnose lupus is through blood tests. When diagnosed with lupus, there are several methods of alleviating symptoms to live a comfortable life. Lupus is a chronic disease, so there is no cure for it.

Generally speaking, cases can be controlled through a number of medications. As aforementioned, recent advances in treatment make living with lupus much more comfortable to live with than in years past. With our team of dedicated professionals, you can be sure that you’ll be treated in the best way possible.

Lupus Research

Through research studies, we keep learning more and more about this inflammatory disease that affects areas such as the skin, joints, and organs. The brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs are just a few of the organs that lupus can affect.

Lupus is more commonly found in females going through puberty. Additionally, 20 percent of lupus patients are children or teenagers. Furthermore, each case varies, as symptoms can range from one patient to the other.

Treating Lupus

Although lupus has no cure, there are several ways of treating it. With that being said, there is still a lot of headway that needs to be made. There are three different types of medications for lupus, antimalarial drugs, corticosteroids, and biologics. The most common drug used for patients is antimalarial drugs. These drugs are also recommended for all lupus patients. Antimalarial drugs help treat mouth and nose sores, arthritis, fatigue, rashes, and more.

Corticosteroids are also another way lupus patients can find comfort. Often paired with immune suppressants for life-threatening issues related to lupus, corticosteroids are an excellent option as well. Third but not least is biologics, which are the most recent treatment option for lupus patients. Biologics medication was approved in 2011 for adults and then in 2019 for children.

Unfortunately, these treatments are not always enough. Lupus is, at times, a fatal disease, which is why it’s important to find alternative treatment options. These treatments are only there to help reduce symptoms and issues related to lupus. Fortunately, the SLE-BRAVE research study will pave the way for better treatment options.

SLE-BRAVE

The SLE-BRAVE study will approximately last 14 months. The purpose of the study is to test if baricitnib, an investigational drug, and lupus therapy are effective lupus treatment options. If you are being treated for lupus, you may qualify for this research study. All in all, SLE-BRAVE will help current along with future patients in tackling the hardships that lupus brings.

If eligible, participants will take the medication orally on a daily basis for an entire year. There will be two groups, one with the real drug and the other with a placebo. Neither the doctor nor the patient will have knowledge of what form of the drug you have.

From there, patients will receive frequent check-ups with their study doctor. Visits to the doctor will include weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature checks. We’ll keep track of how each patient is responding to the drug. Participants will also record their experiences through a journal and fill out a questionnaire. Once the study is completed, participants may have a chance of participating in a longer study.

Specialized Lupus Care

If you or someone you know suffers from lupus or other rheumatologic illnesses. You can reach out to us by calling (281) 766-7886. You can also reach us by visiting our services or locations webpages. Take the proactive approach when it comes to this disease, and choose the best Spring TX Rheumatologist Lupus Specialist around.

 

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