What do you think?
Rate this book
Lupus: The Facts
Though one of the lesser known illnesses, Lupus affects an enormous number of people worldwide (there are one million sufferers in the USA alone), and is far more prevalent than many better known illnesses (such as MS and leukaemia). Lupus is a disease of the immune system, resulting from the over-production of antibodies. Typical first symptoms include skin rashes, hair loss, joint swellings, fever; however, it can then go on to start affecting major organs, particularly the kidneys, with a resulting risk to life. It is a disease that predominantly affects young women (between 15 and 40). In spite of its high incidence, little has been written for the sufferer. Fortunately, the options for the Lupus sufferer have improved markedly in recent years, with the advent of self-help groups and improved drug treatments. The long-term prognosis is therefore far more favourable now than it has been in the past. As head of the Lupus Research Unit at St Thomas' Hospital, and life president of Lupus UK, Graham Hughes has an unsurpassed knowledge of Lupus.
127 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2000
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 8, 2026
-It is still quite surprising to find books about Lupus, an illness that remains such a mystery. The book is quite short, though.
-I really liked this book because, even though it was written by a doctor, it is accessible to everyone. There’s no complicated jargon, and he explains every medical aspect clearly and simply. There are no long paragraphs or technical terms that make it confusing.
-I had previously read books about Lupus written by patients, as well as the usual pamphlets from various Lupus organisations and hospitals. However, this book offers a different perspective: that of a doctor who treats Lupus patients daily. Importantly, it does this without turning into a research paper or a book only suitable for doctors.
-I have had Lupus for over 13 years, and when you first start learning about it, you read everything you can to try to understand what you are going through and what Lupus really is. Eventually, though, you feel overwhelmed, and it can seem like you’re reading the same information everywhere. This is partly because Lupus is so mysterious, and affects everyone differently.
-With this book, however, I learned several new things, including:
1. Kidneys are called the “silent organ”
2. How to use dipsticks to check protein levels
3. Important information about blood pressure
4. Tips regarding antimalarial drugs
5. Diet and Lupus, presented from a different perspective
Overall, this book provides a fresh, practical viewpoint that both patients and general readers can understand.
-I really liked this book because, even though it was written by a doctor, it is accessible to everyone. There’s no complicated jargon, and he explains every medical aspect clearly and simply. There are no long paragraphs or technical terms that make it confusing.
-I had previously read books about Lupus written by patients, as well as the usual pamphlets from various Lupus organisations and hospitals. However, this book offers a different perspective: that of a doctor who treats Lupus patients daily. Importantly, it does this without turning into a research paper or a book only suitable for doctors.
-I have had Lupus for over 13 years, and when you first start learning about it, you read everything you can to try to understand what you are going through and what Lupus really is. Eventually, though, you feel overwhelmed, and it can seem like you’re reading the same information everywhere. This is partly because Lupus is so mysterious, and affects everyone differently.
-With this book, however, I learned several new things, including:
1. Kidneys are called the “silent organ”
2. How to use dipsticks to check protein levels
3. Important information about blood pressure
4. Tips regarding antimalarial drugs
5. Diet and Lupus, presented from a different perspective
Overall, this book provides a fresh, practical viewpoint that both patients and general readers can understand.
Displaying 1 of 1 review