Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys.  The immune system normally protects the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials.  In an autoimmune disease like lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues.  The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself.

 

Lupus is NOT infectious, rare or cancerous.

 

Although the cause of lupus is unknown, scientists suspect that individuals are genetically predisposed to lupus, and know that environmental factors such as infections, antibiotics, ultraviolet light, extreme stress and certain drugs play a critical tole in triggering lupus.

 

Lupus strikes adult women 10 - 15 times more frequently than adult men.  Lupus is more prevalent in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asians.

 

Only 10% of people with lupus will have a close relative (parent or sibling) who already has or may develop lupus.  Only about 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.

 

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms come and go and mimic many other illnesses.  Some symptoms of lupus can be transient joint and muscle pain, fatigue, a rash caused by or made worse by sunlight, low grade fevers, hair loss, pleurisy, appetite loss, sores in the nose or mouth or painful sensitivity of the fingers in the cold.

 

Although lupus ranges from mild to life-threatening and thousands of Americans die with lupus each year, the majority of cases can be controlled with proper treatment.

 

While medical science has not yet developed a method of curing lupus, new research brings unexpected findings and increased hope each year.