Michael Jackson - Lupus

Hi Guys & Girls,

I'm sure you've all heard the lupus references regarding Michael Jackson. I think with the media's 'cut and paste' attitude to get 'news' online and out there as soon as possible, there's been so much confusion.

People therefore assume he had SLE just because the word lupus was mentioned. There didn't seem to be too much discussion regarding the different types of lupus - Jackson was known to have discoid.

I was forwarded this email written by the well known lupus author and doctor Dan Wallace this week, even after abuse came into the evolving story:

"I can confirm that Michael Jackson had vitiligo and discoid (chronic cutaneous lupus) and never had systemic disease that played any role in his passing.

I am concerned that some commentators are relating that a background of abuse has anything to do with lupus. There has never been a peer reviewed published article that specifically has shown this in lupus.

Thanks
Dan Wallace MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA"

If anything, Jackson's death and the lupus link has done something for awareness - even the Sydney Morning Herald mentioned the 'L' word this week.

Regards Geoff
P.S. The subject and comments on the topic have been pretty hot on the blog.
For more info, check out:
http://thewideworldoflupus.blogspot.com/

Hi Geoff,

Hope you are well!! Thanks for the info on MJ - there certainly was alot of confusion and rumor out there. I can't believe someone would try to connect lupus with abuse and not back it up with documentation. It is a good thing that lupus was mentioned several times but I sort of got the impression like "big deal". I am a little disappointed, however, with MJ having lupus and as someone else had mentioned on another board, he would have been a GREAT spokesman for the cause. Why didn't he??

Thanks again for the correct info and take care!!

Thanks for the correct info, Geoff! This is the reason why I changed my college major from journalism years ago. I got frustrated with the way so much spin was placed on what is passed on to the public.

Not a problem girls... They way things have been reported have even confused me with somewhat of a media background. I just don't think people have had the time to report the facts before publishing in the scramble to get a story out there. Best wishes as always, Geoff...

Thank you Geoff

also good to see your post

Take care
Ray

Thanks Geoff,

I do remember hearing a while ago that he had Lupus but not SLE. I just assumed it was the reason he wanted all the plastic surgery.....