New study conducted with a Swedish lupus cohort finds increased risk of ischemic stroke.
A study published in April 2017 found that lupus patients had more than twice the risk of having an ischemic stroke (HR 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.7 – 2.8) as the general population. Importantly, the highest relative risk for stroke was in the first year after receiving a lupus diagnosis. The researchers noted that the, “first encounter with patients represents an opportunity for rheumatologists to intervene.”
There were also age and sex differences found in the study. Women and people under the age of 50 experienced the highest relative rate of ischemic stroke. Though, they do note that people over 60 years of age have the highest absolute rate of stroke. And, intra-cerebral hemorrhage was increased for people with SLE, and grew over time. Researchers hypothesized that this may be “due to a cumulative effect of inflammation or medications used more often in SLE such as anticoagulants.“
Does this also apply to Sjogrens, which is called a “sister” to Lupus ?
It would be helpful to have a site like this for us “Sjogies”
Hello Leona – this study was only on people with lupus. However, this article on Medscape notes that people with Sjogren’s are at a higher risk for heart attacks and stroke.
Thank you for the suggestion 🙂 It is something we are definitely interested in getting started!
I agree with the studys with sjogrens. My thought patterns are slower, I have numbness in my face and all over and veritigo all the time but nobody talks about why or how. I see rheumatologist and neurologists and have medication but nothing resolved or any answers.
I wish more rheumatologists knew about this. I was plaquenil when blood work showed high markers for SLE type issues. I didn’t have too many issues with pain at the time just bit of stiffness in the last joint of the fingers. That medication made me feel totally worse! I had pain occur in the night I’ve never had, or: elbow pain and clavical pain and my head felt warm and somewhat numb. Within 20 minutes of taking the medication I was a mess! Needless to say I made the decision to stop after day 3 and saw my rheumatologist and he agreed. I have stroke, blood clots and HBP in my family. Listen to your body is what I say.
I had a mild one when I was around two months pregnant. I was walking into my room and all of a sudden had gotten extremely dizzy. So I stopped in the door way to hold myself up and all of a sudden my interest face got numb then extremely tingly. I had no idea but I went to the er right away. One of my clues was that I couldn’t speak the words that my mind was thinking. Like just an example, I’d be thinking of saying water, but maybe tea would come out of my mouth instead or walmart became McDonald’s. Very scary. I couldn’t recieve an mri or a CAT scan due to being pregnant. But I knew. The next day into weeks that had past, one of my arms, from my shoulder down to my finger tips was numb. Could feel nothing but the entire arm was cold to the touch. I had friends that could feel the difference in the temperature by touch both arms at the same time. My slower thinking and speech got better. As well as my arm. I’m only 35yrs old.
So what can I do to prevent these attacks? Should I take a baby aspirin or consult my PCP or Rheumatologist? I do get dizzy but I think maybe that’s from the medications?