Lupus (Avery Health Guides) (Paperback)

by Robert G. Lahita (Author), Phillips (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a mysterious, hard-to-diagnose disease that affects an estimated two million people in the United States alone. The unpredictable behavior and uncertain course of lupus raise many questions for sufferers of this sometimes devastating disease. Lahita (medicine, Columbia Univ., and chief of rheumatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Ctr., New York) has authored several textbooks on lupus and immune diseases. His coauthor is the director of the "Cope" program for the Long Island/Queens chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America and wrote Coping with Lupus (Avery, 1990). Lahita and Phillips are more than qualified to provide information about lupus, and their writing is clear and their coverage comprehensive. Their question-and-answer format will not be to everyone's taste; however, in combination with the index, it makes finding answers to particular questions quick and easy. Recommended for all patient-education collections.?Stacey Hathaway, Wright State Univ. Libs., Dayton, Ohio
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Physician Lahita and psychologist Phillips have had considerable experience in diagnosing and treating lupus and helping patients and their family members cope. Their book, aimed primarily at patients, clearly discusses the different types of the disease. Because lupus can be so confusing, Lahita and Phillips also discuss medical disorders similar to it. They subsequently turn to the immune system, which is the body system most likely to be involved in lupus, to tests and diagnosis, and to descriptions of symptoms and complications, usefully conveyed in question-and-answer format. Not much is yet known about the causes of lupus; still, Lahita and Phillips offer some suggestions. Many triggers can initiate flare-ups of the disease, but there are ways to lessen some of these outbreaks' effects. The thorough and practical volume ends with a brief list of further reading that surprisingly does not include Suzy Szasz's excellent Living with It (1991). William Beatty

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Avery; 1 edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895298333
• ISBN-13: 978-0895298331
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #235,775 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Lupus
  #25 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Rheumatic Diseases
  #33 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Immune Systems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the most helpful book I have read to date on lupus., March 7, 1999

By A Customer

Since being diagnosed almost 10 years ago, I have read many books, articles, pamphlets, etc. on lupus and autoimmune diseases. This book gave me the most up to date information as well as suggesting to me what questions I should be asking my health care providers. With the insights I have gained, I feel I am better equipped to manage my medical problems and live with lupus as just a part of my life -- not my whole life. I highly recommend this book to both those who have the disease as well as those who have loved ones who do.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The title is misleading. It should be Lupus Q & A a primer, December 29, 2001

By	Dana E. Creasy (Bloomsburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're looking for straight answers and in depth discussion about lupus, look elsewhere.

While this book has all sorts of information for people NEW to lupus, it is totally useless for anyone living with lupus, or looking for straight answers about lupus.

I got as much information from the Web as I got from this book.

This book should be given to friends and families of those that live with lupus, not to the patients themselves. There is no in depth conversation on lab tests. Nothing in the book talks about what to expect from your doctor, what normal and abnormal test results are and what they mean. There is no discussion on when a patient should, or should not press for a better answer or for more testing.

"Lupus Q & A, a Primer" is good information for the uninvolved an uninitiated. As a source of information for a patient, it is totally useless.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lupus patients, August 31, 2002

By A Customer

As a newly diagnosed SLE patient, this book answered so many questions I had plus some I hadn't even thought of yet. It is an excellent source of information. It was also helpful for family members to read and aid in their understanding of my dieseae.