About Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
What is lupus?
Lupus (Systemic lupus erythematosus) is a chronic disease that can affect almost any organ in the body. People with mild lupus may have only skin rashes and/or joint pain. In more severe lupus patients, important organs like the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and brain can be involved.
Any two people with lupus may have different symptoms. They also may experience different lengths of time when the disease is active or in remission. While lupus cannot be cured, your health care provider can help you control symptoms and lead a relatively normal life.
What happens in the body?
Lupus symptoms are caused by an overly active immune system. Normally the immune system protects us by attacking bacteria, viruses and other cells recognized as foreign and harmful to the body. But with lupus, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissue. Lupus is called an autoimmune disorder. This is because the immune system attacks “self”. Auto means self. The reason for these mistakes by the immune system is not completely understood.
There are medicines that can help prevent the immune system from making mistakes. These medicines are very useful in treating lupus symptoms and preventing damage to the body.
When the immune system attacks the body or foreign cells, inflammation occurs. The good news is that anti-inflammatory medicines can decrease the power of the immune system and minimize the pain and damage caused by inflammation. Sometimes, however, these medications can make you more susceptible to infections because the immune system is suppressed.
Why does a person get lupus?
It is estimated that 1.5 million people in the United States have lupus. Ninety percent of them are women. Most cases of lupus are diagnosed in women between the ages of 12 and 40. Non-Caucasians are 2 to 3 times more likely to have lupus than Caucasians.
It is difficult to know exactly what has caused a person to develop lupus. Some people are born with a genetic predisposition to lupus. This means that their immune system may become confused more easily than normal. When a person with this predisposition is exposed to something in their environment, lupus symptoms may result. Environmental triggers are thought to include viral infections, exposure to silica dust, sun exposure, various medications and hormones -especially estrogen. This may be why more women than men have lupus and why lupus symptoms are often first noticed during pregnancy, after giving birth (postpartum) or when girls reach puberty. Researchers are working to determine the cause or causes of lupus.
This information has been approved by JoAnn Gillis, MD . (April 2008).
