Inflammatory Conditions

IBD Patients Have a Higher Risk of Developing Skin Cancer

At the October 2009 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Science Meeting, lead investigator, Millie Long, MD, presented the results of a new retrospective study on the increased incidences of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) among patients who have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with IBD are more than 60% more likely to develop NMSC than individuals without IBD. "One in 5 Americans develop skin cancer, which accounts for a third of all cancers in the United States", reports Dr. Long. (1) Nonmelanoma skin cancer is a malignant growth of the epithelial (external) layer of the skin.

Sarcoidosis: Current Research

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by small nodules (granulomas) of immune cells. The granulomas can occur in virtually any organ, but the lungs are the predominant site. Sarcoidosis looks similar to tuberculosis, some fungal infections, and chronic beryllium disease. These possibilities must be ruled out before sarcoidosis is diagnosed. About 1.3% of women will experience sarcoidosis sometime in their lives. The majority of cases last 12 – 36 months, while more serious cases persist for up to 5 years, and a few last for decades.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Update

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other conditions of anomalous chronic inflammation. There is as yet no cure, but the quality of life can be improved with treatment.

A Lupus Patient's Perspective of Benlysta

A new drug for systemic lupus is potentially on the horizon. This is groundbreaking news.

Hide Your Summer Psoriasis Before It Hides You

Conveniently my friend and I live on a beach. Not so conveniently my friend has psoriasis outbreaks so bad she is embarrassed to walk outside the house to enjoy it out of fear someone will spot a blemish.

Connection Between Inflammation, Infection and High Blood Pressure

Reuters news service released an article yesterday citing a few studies that show a correlation between a common virus, CMV Cytomegalovirus, and high blood pressure.

Life with Lupus

Regan is a lupus advocate and musician: please visit her at www.BeatLupus.com and www.ReganMizuno.com. Thank you.

Hello everybody. My name is Regan, and I am a lupus patient. Actually, I like to refer to myself as a lupus “participant”. Sometimes I am indeed symptomatic, but, in general, I’m in very good health and have been in remission for quite some time now.

UVB Light for Psoriasis: Home Treatment Is An Option

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears as a rash with skin scales in various parts of the body.

Be Your Own Health Advocate

If you’re diagnosed with a serious illness, don’t assume that you’ll be shepherded through the system, expertly handed off from doctor to lab to clinic to doctor in a well choreographed dance. It doesn’t usually happen that way.