Anna Nicole Smith May Have Had Lupus

Anna Nicole Smith who passed away on February 8, 2007 may have suffered from lupus, according to MSNBC. First and foremost, it must be emphasized that the medical condition systemic lupus erythematosus, also commonly referred to as lupus or SLE, has not been confirmed by medical authorities, nor has her cause of death been announced yet. However, some of Anna Nicole's close friends have disclosed that Anna Nicole confided she had lupus but she didn't want her fans to remember her that way and wanted it kept secret. On ETonline.com, close friend Frank Rodriguez said Anna Nicole told him in 1998 about the lupus. It has also been reported that her pregnancy last year could have caused a flare of lupus symptoms, including severe pain. The condition may account for some of the drugs Anna Nicole took. Reports of severe fatigue, spiking fevers, and lupus may prove to be consistent.

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According to the Autoimmune Diseases Association, it is not uncommon for celebrities to try to keep their autoimmune conditions away from the media and hidden from the public. Non-celebrity people, who suffer with lupus or one of the 80 other autoimmune diseases, often hide their condition from family and friends fearing they will be misunderstood. One study found that 29 percent of Americans incorrectly believe that autoimmune disease is AIDS. Only 5 percent of study respondents could name an autoimmune disease. If Anna Nicole is confirmed to have had lupus, no one should be surprised she hid it.

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