Private MD News
Home |
News |
Autoimmune Diseases
Doctor: Michael Jackson had Lupus
Updated: 2009-07-13 21:17:19 CST Category: Autoimmune Diseases
by Laurent Castellucci
In an interview with Larry King last Wednesday, Dr Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's dermatologist, confirmed that the pop mega-star had Lupus, an autoimmune disorder which can cause skin lesions, heart attacks, strokes, seizures and organ failure. Vitiligo, a disease that causes pale splotching of the skin, has been linked to autoimmune disorders as well. Jackson admitted to having vitiligo in the 90s.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, approximately 1.5 million Americans have the disease. Of those, 90 percent are women but when men do have the disease they tend to have a more active form. The disease most commonly develops between the ages of 15 and 44, and is less common among Caucasians than it is among minorities.
Lupus is usually diagnosed with a detailed medical history, a physical exam and blood tests. The antinuclear antibodies test is most commonly used to confirm a diagnosis. People with lupus and other autoimmune disease produce autoantibodies which target their own cells, and the antinuclear antibodies tests checks for the presence of these cells.
Lupus currently has no cure, but can be treated and is not necessarily fatal.
Related Articles from Private MD:
Share on Facebook
Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed: 
News Categories:
Advanced Lipid Treatment I
Allergy Testing
Anemia and RBC disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Bariatric Lab Testing
Blood and Blood Diseases
Breast
Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
Celiac Disease Testing
Chlamydia
Coagulation and blood clotting disorders
Colon
Diabetes
DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing
Drug Screening
Environmental Toxin Testing
Female Specific Tests
Gastrointestinal Diseases
General Health
General Wellness
Heart Health and Cholesterol
Herpes
HIV
HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos
Hormones and Metabolism
Infectious Diseases
Infertility Testing-Male
Infertitlity Hormone Testing
Kidney Diseases
Leukemia and WBC disorders
Liver
Liver Diseases
Lyme Disease
Male Specific Tests
Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis
Organ Specific Testing
Ovarian
Prostate
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Thyroid Diseases
Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here
Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click
here to get started or call us toll-free at
1.877.283.7882. Our certified professionals are ready to assist
you.