Lupus - Notable Cases

Notable Cases

• Louisa May Alcott, American author best known for her novel Little Women, has been suggested to have had SLE.
• Inday Ba (also known as N'Deaye Ba), a Swedish-born actress who died from SLE complications at age 32.
• Toni Braxton was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December 2012 because of "minor health issues" related to Lupus.
• Donald Byrne, American chess player who died from SLE complications in 1976.
• J Dilla (also known as Jay Dee), a hip-hop producer and beat maker who died of SLE complications in 2006.
• Caroline Dorough-Cochran, sister of Howie D. of the Backstreet Boys, died of SLE complications. He founded the Dorough Lupus Foundation in her memory.
• Lady Gaga has been tested borderline positive for SLE, however she claims not to be affected by the symptoms yet. The revelations caused considerable dismay amongst her fans, leading to Gaga herself addressing the matter in an interview with Larry King, saying she hopes to avoid symptoms by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Pumpuang Duangjan, "Queen of Thai Country Music"
• Hugh Gaitskell, British politician who died of SLE complications in 1963 aged 56.
• Sophie Howard, British glamour model
• Michael Jackson suffered from both SLE and vitiligo. Diagnosed in 1986, and confirmed by his dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, who presented legal documents during court depositions.
• Teddi King, American singer, died of SLE complications in 1977.
• Charles Kuralt, former anchor of CBS Sunday Morning, died of SLE complications in 1997.
• Ferdinand Marcos, former Philippine president, died of SLE complications in 1989.
• Mary Elizabeth McDonough, American actress; blames her SLE on leaky silicone breast implants.
• Flannery O'Connor, American fiction writer who died of SLE complications in 1964.
• Tim Raines, former major league baseball player
• Mercedes Scelba-Shorte, America's Next Top Model Season Two runner-up and model.
• Lauren Shuler Donner, American movie producer.
• Lucy Vodden, inspiration for the Beatles song Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. Meeting Vodden later in life and realizing her illness, Julian Lennon campaigned to raise awareness of Lupus and following Vodden's death in 2009 has been an active member of the Lupus Foundation of America.
• Ray Walston, character actor who died of SLE complications in 2001 after a six-year battle with the disease.
• Michael Wayne, Hollywood director, and producer, part owner of Batjac Productions, son of legendary actor John Wayne, died of heart failure resulting from SLE complications in 2003.