East Elmhurst, NY
A 25-year-old male asked:
My mother is 45 y/o, she been diagnosed with lupus in the joints.dna is (-) but her ana is high. doc want to give penlesta inj .should i let her take t?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
I'd go for it: Belimumab is a remarkable new anti-lupus drug. We have a saying in pathology, "treat the patient, not the labs", and especially in rheumatology, the labs are there only to lend limited support to the rheumatologist's diagnosis. If your mom's "rheumy" wants to give this medicine a try, i'd urge her to accept. Lupus is almost never textbook-perfect.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A Verified Doctoranswered
Rheumatology 54 years experience
Probably: This question is impossible to answer without knowing the severity of the disease and her previous therapies. That said, Benlysta (belimumab) is a very effective therapy for many people with lupus.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 4, 2016
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