97 South Street, Suite 110
West Hartford, CT 06110-1960
(860) 953-0387
Fax (860) 953-0483
|
 |
|
Lupus Fact Sheet
Lupus is a chronic, auto immune 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 auto immune 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 "self".
Lupus is NOT infectious, rare or cancerous.
LFA market research data show that between 1,400,000 and 2,000,000
people have been diagnosed with lupus. (Study conducted by
Bruskin/Goldring Research, 1994.) Lupus is more prevalent than
AIDS,
sickle cell anemia, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and
cystic
fibrosis combined.
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 role in
triggering
lupus.
Lupus affects 1 out of every 185 Americans. Although lupus can
occur at
any age, and in either sex, 90% of people with lupus are women
and
during the childbearing years lupus strikes women 10-15 times
more
frequently than 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 to cold.
Sunlight, infection injury, surgery, stress or exhaustion can
trigger "flare-
ups" of lupus (a more active state of the disease).
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.
Increased professional awareness and improved diagnostic
techniques
and evaluation methods are contributing to the early diagnosis
and treatment
of lupus. With current methods of therapy 80-90% of people with
lupus can
look forward to a normal life span.
While medical science has not yet developed a method for curing
lupus, new
research brings unexpected findings and increased hope each
year.
The Lupus Foundation of America has over 50 local chapters
directly providing
patient services, education, awareness and research in their
local areas.
|
|
| |
|
|
