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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

What is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus — a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks — occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.
Some people are born with a tendency toward developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there's no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.

Symptoms

No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent. Most people with lupus have mild disease characterized by episodes — called flares — when signs and symptoms get worse for a while, then improve or even disappear completely for a time.
The signs and symptoms of lupus that you experience will depend on which body systems are affected by the disease. The most common signs and symptoms include:

• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
• Butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body.
• Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure.
• Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods.
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain.
• Dry eyes.
• Headaches, confusion and memory loss.

Causes

As an autoimmune disease, lupus occurs when your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your body. It's likely that lupus results from a combination of your genetics and your environment.
It appears that people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger lupus. The cause of lupus in most cases, however, is unknown. Some potential triggers include:

• Sunlight. Exposure to the sun may bring on lupus skin lesions or trigger an internal response in susceptible people.
• Infections. Having an infection can initiate lupus or cause a relapse in some people.
• Medications. Lupus can be triggered by certain types of blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications and antibiotics. People who have drug-induced lupus usually get better when they stop taking the medication. Rarely, symptoms may persist even after the drug is stopped.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of lupus include:

• Your sex. Lupus is more common in women.
• Age. Although lupus affects people of all ages, it's most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45.
• Race. Lupus is more common in African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans.