Beiruting - Life Style Blog - Selena Gomez’s Kidney Transplant a Common Risk With Lupus
previous article
next article
Selena Gomez’s Kidney Transplant a Common Risk With Lupus
(World News) 6 years ago

 

 

Pop star Selena Gomez revealed on Thursday that she recently underwent a kidney transplant because of her battle with the autoimmune disease lupus.

 

The 25-year-old singer and actress shared the news on Instagram to explain to fans who may have been wondering why she was "laying low" over the summer.

 

"So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health," Gomez wrote in her post, which included a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed next to her longtime friend, and donor, actress Francia Raisa.

 

"There aren't words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend," she wrote. "She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis."

 

Gomez, who also posted a photo of the scar from her transplant surgery in the same Instagram post, promised her fans that she'd reveal more details about her health in the near future.

 

"I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you," she said.

The entertainer has been public about her battle with lupus, an autoimmune disease that prompted her to take some time off last year to deal with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.In 2014, she had chemotherapy to treat the disease.

 

There are two types of lupus. One form, discoid lupus, only affects the skin. Systemic lupus erythematosus, however, harms the skin, joints, kidneys and brain and may be fatal, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

 

"Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can, among other things, affect the kidneys," said NBC News medical correspondent Dr. John Torres. "If it causes the immune system to attack the kidneys enough they can fail, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

 

"Systemic lupus causes the body's autoimmune cells - the defense system which usually protects against disease - to attack tissues and organs like the kidneys, triggering inflammation.

 

No one knows what actually causes lupus, but viral infection and environmental toxins seem to be some of the culprits being studied. It's most common in young and middle aged women, ages 19-60.Up to 60 percent of people with lupus will develop kidney disease at some point in their lives.

 

In general, patients who undergo kidney transplants have higher survival rates compared to those who require dialysis, said rheumatologist Dr. Amit Saxena, director of Lupus Clinical Trials at NYU Langone Health. "The major long-term risks are, rejection of the transplant and complications from the immunosuppressive medications used to prevent failure, such as infections."

 

The outlook is good for the singer's new kidney, however. Recurrence of lupus in a transplanted kidney is rare, according to Saxena.

 

(Credits: NBC News)

 

FIND YOUR PLACE
search
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Hilton
Enjoy views of Beirut city from Hilton
Enjoy stunning views of Beirut city and the majestic Mount Lebanon from Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand hotel. Ideally locat... read more
CHARLES DE GAULLE STREET HORSH TABE, BEIRUT,L
09 901 701 - 70 50 40 04
view map
Kempinski Summerland Hotel
Luxury 5 Star Resort
Welcome to Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort Beirut, where luxury unfolds in the heart of a historic city.  A mesm... read more
Jnah
09 901 701 - 70 50 40 04
view map
Phoenicia Hotel Beirut
Everybody's elite destination
Lebanon - a colorful Mediterranean country with a magnificent climate, full of unexpected contrasts. It is rich in histo... read more
Minet El HosnBeirut, Lebanon 11846
09 901 701 - 70 50 40 04
view map
Le Gray Beirut
Simply Seductive…
  With the opening of Le Gray, Beirut finally has the hotel it deserves – a contemporary luxury hotel as stylish as the... read more
Martyrs’ Square, Beirut Central District
09 901 701 - 70 50 40 04
view map
The Smallville Hotel
Come in as a guest,leave as a hero
Conveniently located in the charming neighborhood of Badaro, The Smallville Hotel delivers a heroic experience like no o... read more
Damascus Street, Museum District,Badaro, Beir
09 901 701 - 70 50 40 04
view map
FEATURED EVENTS
  • online ordering system for restaurants
  • The best online ordering systems for restaurants
  •