Strong Statistical Association Found Between Trauma and Lupus

Reflecting on practical steps doctors might take to help lupus patients with PTSD, Dr. Costenbader says, “Rheumatologists should more proactively screen for trauma, making it clear to patients we’re not just doing paperwork and gathering data. Now that we are aware of the link between past traumatic events and the increased risk of developing lupus, we should sincerely ask—early on—about past trauma. Perhaps letting patients know that a trauma can affect their lupus condition would propel them to open up to their physicians.”

Elizabeth Hofheinz, MPH, MEd, is a freelance medical editor and writer based in the greater New Orleans area.

Reference

Roberts AL, Malspeis S, Kubzansky LD, et al. Association of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder with incident systemic lupus erythematosus in a longitudinal cohort of women. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017 Nov;69(11):2162–2169.

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Reference

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