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R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

Joined: 09/02/2011

Expert Profile:

Dr. R. Swamy Venuturupalli is a board-certified rheumatologist practicing in Los Angeles. He is Clinical Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA as well as being Editor-in-Chief of Current Rheumatology Reports.

Dr. Venuturupalli grew up in Bombay, India, the son of two physicians. In 1995, he received his medical degree from the prestigious Topiwala National Medical College in Bombay. Dr. Venuturupalli completed his residency in Internal Medicine, with distinction, at the Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. Following his residency, he was appointed Chief Resident in the department of medicine at Syracuse University, where he was in charge of managing and training 65 residents.

In 1999, Dr. Venuturupalli moved to Los Angeles for a combined fellowship in health services research with UCLA's School of Medicine, the RAND Corporation, and the Greater Los Angeles Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Along with his cohort, he conducted research on complementary and alternative medicine, publishing studies on Ayurvedic medicine, dietary supplements, and mind-body medicine. Dr. Venuturupalli then completed a rheumatology fellowship at the UCLA-Olive View medical program in 2002.

Dr. Venuturupalli's role as research investigator includes over a hundred clinical trials involving conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory muscle diseases, ankylosing spondylitis, etc. He participates in ongoing rheumatology research with Dr. Daniel Wallace, a leading physician in the field, at the Cedars Sinai Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Venuturupalli lectures frequently to the general public and to the staff and faculty at Cedars Sinai Hospital on various topics in rheumatology, including alternative and complementary medicine. He was also recently invited to give grand rounds at Cedars on topics such as antiphospholipid syndrome and myositis. Dr. Venuturupalli has authored numerous text-book chapters, is published in peer-reviewed journals, and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Current Rheumatology Reviews.

For the past eight years, Dr. Venuturupalli has held a private practice in association with a group of 4 rheumatologists. Dr. Venuturupalli is highly regarded by his colleagues and is a sought-after teacher in his field of expertise. He has served as the past president of the Southern California Rheumatology Society, a non-profit professional organization of rheumatologists focusing on professional education.

Areas of expertise: Inflammatory Muscle disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Anti- Phospholipid syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, Osteoporosis, Vasculitis.

For more information visit Dr. Swamy's website and Facebook page.

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Reply: tsh level

In general 0.3 - 3.0. As far as I know, there is no separate...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

In general 0.3 - 3.0. As far as I know, there is no separate normal level for patients with lupus. Rarely, have I come across a patient with "normal" TSH levels but abnormal thyroid function. However, it seems like there is a large and active community on the internet that propagates the notion that TSH by itself is not accurate in diagnosing thyroid dysfunction. This is not the mainstream view by any means.

A brief explanation of the thyroid hormones is given below.

The thyroid is a gland in your neck associated with your metabolism—the processes by which your body makes use of energy. Autoimmune thyroid disease can occur in people with lupus, as can other thyroid conditions. Usually, thyroid conditions cause the gland to release too much or too little hormone. Your doctor may order tests to detect the level of thyroid hormones in the blood, especially if you experience significant weight loss or gain, sweating, acute sensitivity to hot or cold, fatigue, or other symptoms. These tests can also help your doctor monitor the effectiveness of thyroid treatment. Tests for thyroid hormones are explained below in greater detail. Your doctor may request additional tests, such as tests for thyroid antibodies, to learn more about your condition.
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that signals the thyroid to release its hormones (T3 and T4) when levels in the blood get low. Together, TSH, T3, and T4 are part of a negative feedback loop that keeps levels of thyroid hormones constant in the blood. Abnormal levels of TSH in the blood can suggest a problem with the pituitary gland, such as a tumor, but this is unlikely. More often, high or low TSH levels indicate problems with the thyroid gland. The thyroid may not be responding to stimulation by TSH, or it may be releasing too much T3 and T4. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is more common in lupus, but overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can also occur. Both of these conditions can be dangerous if not properly treated.

T4 and T3: Thyroid hormone contains thyroxine (T4, 90%) and triidothyronine (T3, 10%). The primary role of these substances is to regulate your body's metabolism. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormone can indicate hypo- or hyperthyroidism.
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Posted byR Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:tsh level In general 0.3 - 3.0. As far as I know, there is no separate...

Reply: Burning

The burning may represent a form of neuropathy known as small...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

7 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Burning The burning may represent a form of neuropathy known as small...

Reply: lupus and PTSD

I am sorry for your experience. PTSD is fairly common in your...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:lupus and PTSD I am sorry for your experience. PTSD is fairly common in your...

Reply: Plaque deposits in throat.....help!!

Patients with lupus are prone to upper respiratory infections due...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Plaque deposits in throat.....help!! Patients with lupus are prone to upper respiratory infections due...

Reply: Needing Help, I'm in Africa

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I am also concerned that you...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

5 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Needing Help, I'm in Africa Sorry to hear about your troubles. I am also concerned that you...

Reply: Question for Dr. V

Naltrexone is an inexpensive generic pharmaceutical approved by...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Question for Dr. V Naltrexone is an inexpensive generic pharmaceutical approved by...

Reply: lupus

Occasionally ringing in the ears can be seen as side effects of...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

10 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:lupus Occasionally ringing in the ears can be seen as side effects of...

Reply: Hip pain

Hip disease can occur in a patient with lupus in a number of ways,...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Hip pain Hip disease can occur in a patient with lupus in a number of ways,...

Reply: confused

This is a tough question. I would try to obtain as many records as...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:confused This is a tough question. I would try to obtain as many records as...

Reply: confused

This is a tough question. I would try to obtain as many records as...

Posted by R Swamy Venuturupalli, MD, FACR

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:confused This is a tough question. I would try to obtain as many records as...

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