Tomball TX Doctors Who Treat Lupus Near Me

If you are seeking “Tomball TX doctors who treat lupus near me,” then call Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today. Doctors who treat lupus are known as rheumatologists. These specialized doctors diagnose and treat rheumatologic diseases. Dr. Brionez is an expert and knowledgeable in the field of rheumatology. She has more than ten years of experience in the field.

Dr. Brionez first obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University. Then, she secured her Doctor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Additionally, she finished her Fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. In 2007, Dr. Brionez became board-certified in internal medicine. Two years later, in 2009, she became a board-certified rheumatologist.

Lupus is manageable and Dr. Brionez will help you.

Since 2009, Dr. Brionez has diagnosed and treated rheumatologic conditions. Rheumatologic conditions are diseases that affect the connective tissues in the body. Joints are commonly affected as are organs, ligaments, and bones. Dr. Brionez works closely with patients in order to diagnose and treat their diseases.

Rheumatologic conditions are often referred to as debilitating, but recent advancements in treatments have helped patients live easier and longer lives. Dr. Brionez can treat arthritis, gout, myositis, vasculitis, scleroderma, lupus, and so much more. These diseases are complex, but lupus has many more complexities that make it a unique condition.

The Complexity of Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. These diseases are categorized as the immune system attacking healthy tissues in the body. Normal immune systems attack foreign pathogens in the body, such as infections, diseases, or viruses. Autoimmune diseases “misfire” and attack tissues that are completely healthy. When it comes to lupus, it affects the skin, organs, and joints.

One reason lupus is so complex is that there is no known cause for the disease. Another reason lupus is more complicated than other conditions is it has a wide range of influence on the body. Patients can experience all kinds of symptoms when they have lupus. Rashes, nose and mouth sores, hair loss, and kidney problems are just a fraction of what lupus can manifest.

Furthermore, lupus can be very mild, or it can be severe. Due to its effects on vital organs, patients may face death if lupus is not kept under control. The kidneys, lungs, brain, and heart are common organs affected by this disease. For this reason, it is important patients get the best care possible for their lupus case.

Symptoms of Lupus

It was hinted at earlier, but lupus has numerous types of symptoms. Symptoms of lupus make it hard to identify because they are similar to other diseases. For example, symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and weight loss are not just associated with lupus. Instead, these symptoms are found in dozens of other illnesses. So, lupus is not the first culprit doctors jump to when finding the cause for the symptoms.

Below, you can find the full list of symptoms lupus is capable of manifesting.

Symptoms of Lupus

Fatigue
Fever
Heartburn
Blood clots
Weight loss
Hair loss
Stomach pain
Chest pains with deep breaths
Rashes
Cold toes or fingers
Mouth or nose sores
Sore or swollen joints (arthritis)
Kidney issues (changes in urine)
Neurologic conditions
Pregnant women may have miscarriages

The symptoms of lupus cover all kinds of places in the body. Lupus also has a great impact on a patient’s health. Lupus patients are at a higher risk of developing kidney or heart disease. Patients can manage these risks through certain lifestyle changes.

Diagnosing Lupus

As aforementioned, diagnosing lupus is difficult. The symptoms that appear do not strictly mean the patient has lupus. So, Dr. Brionez will examine patients’ symptoms carefully and then run the necessary blood tests. If she believes the patient may have lupus, then she will run an ANA test. The ANA test detects antinuclear antibodies in the body. These antibodies are what causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues.

If a patient’s ANA test comes back positive, then they will be diagnosed with lupus. Dr. Brionez may also run more specific tests in order to identify the antibodies specifically linked to lupus. Antinuclear antibodies are present in almost all lupus patients. Patients with negative ANA tests do not have lupus. Instead, another illness is most likely the cause.

Lupus Treatment Options and SLE-BRAVE

Lupus has no cure, so the symptoms are the target for treatment. Antimalarial drugs are used to treat symptoms like rashes, fatigue, and mouth sores. These medications were once used to prevent and cure malaria, but have found new uses against lupus. This medication option is recommended for all patients with lupus.

Patients can help others by participating in the SLE-BRAVE research study.

In more severe cases of lupus, corticosteroids are given. Corticosteroids are used to suppress the immune system. Serious cases include problems with the organs like the kidneys or lungs. There are some drugs in this category of treatment that also reduce pain in patients. Finally, more mild cases will use biologics. The most recent lupus-approved drug is known as Benlysta. It is the first approved drug for lupus since 1955. In 2019, it was approved for use on children.

Unfortunately, there are many patients who do not respond to lupus treatment options. So, there are research studies paving the way to new treatments. SLE-BRAVE is an important example of exploring treatment options for lupus patients. Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is participating in this lupus research study. We are currently looking for lupus patients to participate in the study. SLE-BRAVE is seeking patients to test an investigational drug alongside lupus therapy.