Dr. Katz Stands with lupus patients and their families as he leads the charge in the fight against lupus CHICAGO, IL, September 2024 – The Chicago Illinois Lupus Walk Ambassador […]

According to new research (Law, et. All, Nature, 2024), it may be that T lymphocytes appear to play a more important role than we thought in causing active lupus. They […]

Recent lupus research has received significant coverage bringing encouraging results.  The research was partially funded by the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) – an organization the LSI supports annually.  The LRA […]

Meet Lavita Williams, Lupus Warrior and LSI’s newest Support Group Leader

BY MADELINE HANDLEYMadeline Handley is a third-year Molecular Biology student at Colgate University, who has learned how to navigate a college environment whilst managing lupus. Madeline was diagnosed with lupus […]

BY MADELINE HANDLEYMadeline Handley is a third-year Molecular Biology student at Colgate University, who has learned how to navigate a college environment whilst managing lupus. Madeline was diagnosed with lupus […]

Team Jackie’s Angels Uses Walk to Keep Loved One’s Battle Alive atThe Annual Western Suburbs Illinois Lupus Walk CHICAGO, IL, August – Team Jackie co-captains Elsa Bueno and Eddie Silva […]

By Irene Blanco, MD, MSProfessor of Medicine-Rheumatologyco-Director of the Clinical Research Ethics & Equity Consultative Service (CREEC) Lupus can have long-term consequences on patients’ lives as it typically affects people […]

By Dr. Robert Katz, LSI Board Chair and LSI Medical Advisory Board Chair (CAR T-cell therapy, typically used in cancer treatment, is a form of immunotherapy.In CAR T-cell therapy, blood […]

By Dr. Robert Katz, Chair Lupus Society of Illinois Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board The holidays can increase anxiety and depression in many people. We thought an article […]

Paper Reviewed by Dr Andrew R Benck and Dr Dmitriy Cherny (Rush Lupus Clinic) The causes of lupus are complex, but it is known that a type of immune cell called a B-Cell, is thought to play a central […]

 Published article from Helio https://www.healio.com/news/rheumatology/20220825/higher-quality-of-care-fails-to-improve-quality-of-life-in-lupus Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who report a high quality of care do not necessarily report meaningful clinical differences in quality of life, according to […]

By Dr. Robert Katz, Chair Lupus Society of Illinois Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board A diagnosis of lupus can be difficult due to the gradual development of symptoms. […]

Mari Gonzalez has lived with lupus since 2012 – she Walks for Lupus to raise awareness and funds to help others CHICAGO, IL, September – Mari Gonzalez is named the […]

A lupus patient shares her reasons for participating in clinical trials.

In those who become infected with COVID-19, treatments are now available. All treatments are more effective if given as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test.

If you have lupus, you may qualify. Clinical research opportunityDo you have active lupus that is not responding to your current medications? Are you between the ages of 18-65? If […]

In those who become infected with COVID-19, treatments are now available. All treatments are more effective if given as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test.

LUPUS WARRIOR NAMED LUPUS WALK AMBASSADORCheryl Vail has lived with lupus most of her life – she Walks for Lupus to raise awareness and funds to help others CHICAGO, IL, […]

Lupus Warrior and her family lead the 2022 Southern Suburbs Lupus Walk on July 30, 2022 CHICAGO, IL, June 28, 2022 – Gloria Veal was named the 2022 Southern Suburbs […]

The lupus community has been fortunate to benefit from new drugs and treatments that have made a huge impact on the quality of life and longevity of patients. How did […]

Lupus…My Story – May 2022 It was in the latter part of 2008 going into 2009 that I found my body was going through a thing. Nothing I had ever […]

In those who become infected with COVID-19, treatments are now available. All treatments are more effective if given as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test.

By Viktoria Cupay, Beach Park, ILWhat type of lupus do you have?SLE and Lupus Nephritis When were you diagnosed with lupus?September 2016 How long did it take for a correct […]

In those who become infected with COVID-19, treatments are now available. All treatments are more effective if given as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test.

Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some variants emerge and disappear while others persist.

The COVID-19 vaccines are effective, including a booster dose, in vulnerable lupus patients, including those taking immunosuppressive therapies.

Mrs. Illinois American 2021, Alisa Stevens. Wife, mother of two, and lupus warrior Alisa StevensAntioch, IL What type of lupus do you have?SLE When were you diagnosed with lupus?December 2004 […]

LSI Medical Advisory Board member and Director of the RUSH Lupus Clinic Dr. Meenakshi Jolly lead an investigation on Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use and patient reported outcomes. The research concluded that […]

By Dr. Ailda Nika, RUSH Lupus Clinic The face of lupus therapy is changing rapidly. We are closing 2021 with additions to our armamentarium (the medicines, equipment, and techniques available […]

Meet Glenview Support Group leader Chris. She is a wife, mothers of 2 and lupus warrior. What type of lupus do you have?SLE When were you diagnosed with lupus?2003 How […]

By Dr. Robert Katz Medical Advisory Board The effects of exercise intervention on health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus in the journal Healthcare. In this study, 1,058 […]

By Dr. Robert Katz Medical Advisory Board Pharmacies are now offering booster shots for immunocompromised patients. Many lupus patients qualify because they are being treated with prednisone and other potentially […]

By Dr. Robert Katz According to the CDC, the Delta variant of COVID-19 is more contagious – more than 2x as contagious as previous variants; some data suggest the Delta […]

What is SAPHNELO and how does it work?SAPHNELO is a first-in-class type I interferon (IFN) receptor antagonist, a human monoclonal antibody that binds to subunit 1 of the type I […]

By Dr. Robert Katz Europe has now approved the use of Benlysta to treat children with lupus. Benlysta has the generic name belimumab. The “mab” at the end indicates it […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Carissa Calascibetta. LSI Associate Board member and walking for LSI Associate Board team. What kind of lupus do you have?I have SLE. When was […]

LSI received the following question. Medical Advisory Board members facilitate answers to these questions. If you have a question, please forward it to [email protected] or call 312-542-0002. Thanks to Dr. […]

By Dr. Robert Katz In a paper written by Rasmus, Westermann, and others, the authors ask the question as to whether cancer risk is increased in patients with skin lupus […]

By Dr. Robert Katz A research paper in the journal Lupus entitled, “The Importance of Pregnancy Planning in Lupus Pregnancies,” Rajendran, Euty, and other authors from Duke University Medical Center […]

2021 walk Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassadors, Bill Evans and Patti Engstrom, team captains of Evans and Engstrom Bike Team and an Executive Board member. Watch Bill & Patti’s 2020 […]

By Dr. Robert Katz An article in the journal Lupus discusses delayed diagnosis. The conclusion of the authors is that a longer time to diagnosis was associated with worse outcomes. […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Donna Emery. Team captain of Lupus Fighters 2021. What kind of lupus do you have?My Lupus is called SLE, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. When was […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, LaShon Gurrola. Team captain of Rush’ing Stars and is also on the LSI Associate Board team. LaShon is an LSI support group leader to […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Regina Casto. Team captain of Paco’s Posse for 15 years!! What is your connection to lupus?My father BKA Paco When was the lupus diagnosis?1978 […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Ailda Nika, MD. Team captain of the Rush’ing Stars. Dr. Nika sees patients through the Rush Lupus Clinic and is instrumental in the annual […]

Dr. Katz takes leadership role after decades-long commitment to the lupus community (CHICAGO, IL−May 11, 2021)- Dr. Robert S. Katz has been elected Chairman of the Board of the Lupus […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Stacey Kennedy-Conner. Team captain of Stacey’s Lifesavers and supporter of the LSI Associate Board team. What kind of lupus do you have?Systemic Lupus Erythematosus […]

“Lupus nephritis can be a devastating condition if not diagnosed and managed early,” stated Brad H. Rovin, M.D., Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Division of Nephrology, Ohio State University Wexler Medical Center, an AURORA clinical trial investigator and the lead author of the publication. “The publication of AURORA 1 data validates the importance of voclosporin (LUPKYNIS) in early disease intervention for LN. These data establish voclosporin as an efficacious and safe, rapid-acting new treatment option for patients in need.”

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Kay Mimms. Team captain and Lupus Warrior for K’s Hope for a Cure. What kind of lupus do you have?Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or lupus, […]

2021 walk Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Robert Knapel. Team captain and President to the Lupus Society of IL Associate Board. What is your connection to lupus?My wife has lupus, […]

2021 Virtual run, WALK, ride ambassador, Mari Gonzalez. Team captain to the Lupus Spoons- Mari’s Majestic Mariposas and support group leader for the Lupus Spoons & Lupus Spoons 2.0. What […]

Mother, Nana, Registered Nurse and Lupus Warrior Recently, LSI found out Support Group Leader LaShon Gurrola, who is already a Registered Nurse, is going back to school to become a […]

By Dr. Robert Katz It is advisable that people with lupus take the COVID vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them. On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food […]

LSI received the following question.  Medical Advisory Board members answer these questions.  If you have a question, please forward it to [email protected] or call 312-542-0002. Thanks to Dr. Meenakshi Jolly […]

Discussing the recent article: Incomplete Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: What Remains After Application of American College of Rheumatology and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Criteria? Dr. Ailda Nika shared this article […]

Dr. Robert KatzProfessor of Medicine Rush University Medical CenterNorthwestern University’s Feinberg School of MedicineChairman Medical Advisory Board, Lupus Society of Illinois Dr. Ben Small Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine COVID-19 stands […]

By Dr. Rosalind Ramsey Goldman Solovy Arthritis Research Society Research Professor at Northwestern Medical This article was written in response to published articles like the the one on newsweek here. […]

By Dr. Robert Katz About COVID-19 & lupus COVID-19 is a coronavirus – one of a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of […]

The National Collaborative for Education to Address the Social Determinants of Health (NCEAS) is planning for their annual conference in April here in Chicago. This will include a Story Slam […]

Article courtesy of GSK GSK today announced positive headline results for intravenous (IV) Benlysta (belimumab) in the largest controlled phase 3 study in active lupus nephritis (LN), an inflammation of […]

Dr. Ailda Nika shared this article wtih readers. Check lupusil.org for more “Latest News” for the lupus community. Breaking news in the Lupus World! While there is substantial unmet need for people […]

Dr. Robert Katz shared this article with readers.  Check lupusil.org for more “Latest News” for the lupus community In an article from China about predictors of a treatment response in […]

Family Walks for Sister & Daughter who lost her battle with lupus honored as 2019 Chicago Lupus Walk Ambassador! CHICAGO, IL, September, 2019 – The Chicago Illinois Lupus Walk Ambassadors […]

Lupus Warrior Educates the Community about Lupus The 14th Annual Western Suburbs Lupus Walk will feature lupus warrior Courtney Wulf as ambassador. “My goal is to increase awareness about lupus, […]

Lupus in pregnancy is a great question. Women with lupus thinking about having a baby will have additional concerns. The Lupus Community Navigator received a question about lupus and pregnancy […]

By Kay Mimms For years, probably my whole life, I suffered with various symp¬toms that could have been related to lupus. My symptoms included cold hands and feet and sensitivity […]

Dr. Robert Katz is Professor of Medicine at Rush Medical College and Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a leading expert in the field of Rheumatology, with experience […]

Jennifer Finley and Michael Rakoczy, longtime advocates of LSI, lead 2019 South Suburbs Lupus Walk CHICAGO, IL, May 13, 2019 – A brother and sister were chosen as the 2019 […]

By Jen Bouquet When were you first diagnosed with lupus? April 30, 2008 How long did it take for a correct diagnosis? 8 years Were you misdiagnosed first? I was […]

​Stacey Jaimes-Herrera is a second year medical student at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. The following is a message she wrote to her class about her experience as a […]

Read the report here

Dr. Meenakshi Jolly and team published in the 2018 April 2 Arthritis Care Research. Read the Abstract

Dr. Rosalind Ramsey Goldman’s team presented a poster at the 14th Annual Lewis Landsberg Research Day on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center at […]

Body image in lupus: Is it disease activity, physical function, depression, pain, fatigue, sleep, fibromyalgia or stress? Dr. Meenakshi Jolly is an author on this recently published article in the […]

By Kayrene Mimms In our individual lives it’s easy to forget how similar we really are. (I’m not sure, but I think if each is stated, the verb would have […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Family honors sister who lost her battle to lupus 10 years ago CHICAGO, IL, September, 2018 – Jacqueline Silva was diagnosed with lupus when she was 16 […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jim and Cheryl Vail share story of love and surviving lupus – together as Lupus Walk Ambassadors CHICAGO, IL, July – Lupus has been a part of […]

Kim Des Biens, longtime LSI supporter, named Northern Suburbs Lupus Walk Ambassador CHICAGO, IL, April 30 – This year, the Chicago Northern Suburbs will host the 11th annual Lupus Walk […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jennifer Finley and Michael Rakoczy, longtime advocates of LSI, lead 2018 South Suburbs Lupus Walk CHICAGO, IL, May 7, 2018 – A brother and sister were chosen […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ambassador Maddie Handley and her family promote lupus awareness at annual walk CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 14 – This year, the Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI) in Chicago […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Corrin Stines named Western Suburbs Lupus Walk Ambassador for the 2nd time CHICAGO, IL, July 5 – This year, the Chicago Western Suburbs will host the 12th […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tara Joseph, Buffalo Grove resident and lupus advocate, named Northern Suburbs Lupus Walk Ambassador CHICAGO, IL, APRIL 19 – This year, Tara Joseph, lupus advocate, will serve […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE KANEFUS WALKER, Hazel Crest resident and lupus support group leader, named Southern Suburbs Lupus Walk Ambassador CHICAGO, IL, MAY 11 – This year, Kanefus Walker, lupus support […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cody McSellers-McCray shines a spotlight for lupus fundraising and awareness CHICAGO, IL, September 12 – This month, Chicago will host its annual Lupus Walk and Fun Run […]

July 27, 2016 – Ashley Mohr is a wife and mother of two amazingly awesome girls ages 8 and 5 years old. She was diagnosed with Lupus at the age […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Rachel Hampton, supported by her group LaLa’s for Lupus, named Western Suburbs Lupus Walk Ambassador CHICAGO, IL, July 18 – This year, the Chicago Western Suburbs will […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kevin Juggan, supported by his family team “Juggan’s Jaywalkers,” lead the 2016 Northern Suburbs Lupus Walk CHICAGO, IL, Apr. 7 – This year, the Lupus Society of […]

Meaghan Fox, lifelong lupus patient, leads 2016 Southern Suburbs Lupus Walk CHICAGO, IL, Apr. 7 – This year, the Chicago Southern Suburbs will host its 8th annual Lupus Walk on […]

October 4, 2012 was a special day for Debra Lynch, an elementary school principal in the Lemont-Bromberek school district. She was planning a special lunch at school for the staff, […]

​Stacey Jaimes-Herrera is a second year medical student at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. The following is a message she wrote to her class about her experience as a […]

A major problem for people living with lupus is fatigue – chronic debilitating fatigue that significantly decreases quality of life and increases the risk of work disability. How does someone […]

WHO: People living with lupus and those that care about them Representatives from the Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI), the Midwest’s leading non-profit health organization dedicated to finding the causes […]

Misconceptions exist that lupus is a women’s disease but 10% of lupus cases are men.  The fact is that anyone can get lupus, regardless of age, ethnicity or gender. Since […]

Finding a doctor to diagnose and treat lupus can be difficult.   The first step is of course getting a proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is not a definitive test for […]

Lupus patients often find themselves on a variety of medications and if you don’t have insurance or if you are under-insured, finding the means to cover the costs adds up. […]

Recently, the LSI was contacted with a question about transportation home from an out-patient service. The patient was told she could not drive herself home from the procedure. Hospitals may […]

The LSI’s office is in Illinois and we serve the entire state of Illinois though our programs and services. To meet the needs of the nearly 28,000 square miles that […]

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), like Aralen (chloroquine) and Atabrine (quinacrine) are anti-malarial drugs used to treat lupus. These drugs were designed to treat malaria and during World War II, were discover to […]

An estimated 50% of people with lupus will develop lung disease at some point during the course of their disease. For people with lupus, symptoms like shortness of breath, chest […]

LSI refers questions regarding disability to our past educational activities (click here) or to attorney Jeff Rabin at Rabin, Kodner & Brown. Jeff has been a long time supporter of […]

In Illinois, it is now legal for people with lupus to get a prescription for Medical Marijuana. Anyone receiving Medical Marijuana in Illinois will have to have a Qualifying Patient […]

The Lupus Community Navigator received a call inquiring about state services for residents on disability. The Illinois Department of Human Services – Rehabilitation Services (DRS) has 4 major bureaus – […]

Diagnosis disputes can happen while you’re in the process of getting diagnosed or have been diagnosed for many years. Lupus is a difficult disease to diagnose. The tests available provide […]

If you have a chronic and unpredictable illness like lupus, telling your employer can be challenging. Legally, you are not required to tell your employer about lupus. If you are […]

About 50% of people with lupus will experience hair loss at some point during the course of their disease. Hair loss can be a symptom of lupus or a side […]

By Celia Mimms, DDS Taking care of one’s mouth and teeth is critical for lupus patients. Adding the dentist to your list of care providers could help you save your […]

Every so often, LFAI becomes aware of a book, program, or product that claims to cure lupus. Some of the books look legitimate and cite studies to make their case. […]

Although chemotherapy drugs can be used to treat lupus and cancer, lupus is not cancer. For some patients whose kidneys or central nervous systems are affected by lupus, a type […]

By Laura Mills My late-20s and early-30s are now a blur, a jumble of stressful events that included a lupus diagnosis. Like much of what happened to me during that […]

The Lupus Navigator recently received a question about Plaquenil. Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), like Aralen (chloroquine) and Atabrine (quinacrine) are anti-malarial drugs used to treat lupus.  These drugs were designed to treat […]

Summertime can be a challenging time of year for people living with lupus. If you are photosensitive, this time of year can bring on extra challenges – exposure to UV […]