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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. |
