January 24, 2011

15 Questions with Dr. Amy H. Kao - Cardiovascular Issues with Lupus

Lupus can affect almost any part of the body, including the cardiovascular system, which is made up of the heart and the circulatory system. Heart disease is a major complication of lupus and is now a leading cause of death among people with lupus. This is partly because people with lupus have more risk factors, which may include: hypertension from kidney disease or corticosteroid use, elevated cholesterol levels and type 2 diabetes from corticosteroid use, and an inactive, sedentary lifestyle due to fatigue, joint problems, and/or muscle pain. This month, Dr. Amy H. Kao will answer your questions about lupus and the cardiovascular system.

Submit your questions to Dr. Kao by February 7. Answers will be posted to the LFA website by February 15. If you have a question about lupus that is not associated with this month’s topic, we invite you to submit your inquiry to our LFA Health Educators and your question will be answered as soon as possible.

Review transcripts from our previous 15 Questions

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have had lupus for many years. I also have a kidney transplant. I have heard that over time the lupus is no longer active and can "disappear". Is that true or are cardiovascular issues still a concern?

Thank you,
Jennie P. Martin

Sophie - LFA said...

Hi Jennie,

Please make sure you submit your questions via the link above. Otherwise, Dr. Kao will not see the question.

Thanks