Lupus, a disease of the immune system, can be quite deadly, claiming the lives of thousands of patients yearly. Dr. Daniel J. Wallace is one of the world's leading authorities on this disorder, an eminent clinician who has treated over 3,000 lupus patients, the largest such practice in America.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction and definitions.Why write a book on lupus? -- What is lupus? -- The history of lupus -- Who gets lupus? -- Inflammation and immunity. The body's protection plan -- The enemy is our cells -- What causes lupus? The genetic connection -- Environmental villains -- Drugs that may cause lupus or produce flare-ups -- Where and how can the body be affected by lupus? History, symptoms, and signs -- Must we draw blood? -- Reactions of the skin: rashes and cutaneous lupus -- Why the aches? Arthritis, muscles, and bone -- Pants and pulses: the lungs and heart -- Heady connections: the nervous system and behavioral changes -- The head, neck, and Sjögren's Syndrome -- What about hormones? -- The impact of lupus on the GI tract and liver -- Lupus in the kidney and urinary tract -- The blood and lymphatic systems -- Why do blood clots develop? -- Lupus through the ages: Lupus in children and the elderly -- Is it really lupus? -- The management of Lupus Erythematosus. How to treat Lupus with physical measures -- You can help conquer Lupus -- Taming inflammation: anti-inflammatory therapies -- Big guns and magic bullets: disease-modifying drugs -- Other treatment options: treatments occasionally used to manage Lupus -- Fighting infections, allergies, and Osteoporosis -- Can a woman with Lupus have a baby? -- Economic impact of Lupus in the United States and disability issues -- What's the prognosis? -- Clinical trials, new therapies for lupus, and future directions.