Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the joints and almost every major organ in the body, including the heart, kidneys, skin, lungs, and brain. A person’s risk of developing lupus appears to be determined by genetic (hereditary) factors. However, the onset of the disease may be triggered by environmental factors such as infection, sunlight, or stress. In autoimmune disorders such as lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues and organs. The major hallmark of this autoimmune attack is inflammation. The course of lupus varies and is characterized by alternating periods of flares (increased disease activity) and remissions. Some people with lupus experience only mild symptoms and have few complications. Others experience frequent flares that lead to moderate or even severe complications.
The number of people with lupus in the United States has been estimated to be as many as one million or more. Anyone can develop lupus, including children, but certain people are more likely to develop the disease. Nine out of ten people who have lupus are women, and the disease usually strikes during the childbearing years. Lupus is three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women and is also more prevalent in women of Latino, Asian, and Native American descent.
Unfortunately, the warning signs of lupus can mimic the warning signs of other diseases. Common symptoms include persistent low-grade fever, skin rash, extreme fatigue, and painful or swollen joints. No single test can be used to diagnose lupus, and it may take several months or years after symptoms first appear for doctors to make a definitive diagnosis. There are blood tests that a doctor can use to help diagnose lupus, but none of these tests are definitive.
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