Is It Lupus? - Lupus: Not A Simple Disease

We don’t know what causes lupus. There is no cure, but in most cases lupus can be managed. Lupus sometimes seems to run in families, which suggests the disease may be hereditary. Having the genes isn’t the whole story, though. Symptoms in some people may triggered by:

• the environment
• sunlight
• stress
• certain medicines

Other people who have similar genetic backgrounds may not get signs or symptoms of the disease. Researchers are trying to find out why.

Anyone Can Get Lupus

9 out of 10 people who have lupus are women. Lupus is most common in women between the ages of 15 and 44. Scientists think a woman’s hormones may have something to do with getting lupus. But men and older people also can get it. African American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. It’s also more common in Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and American Indian women.

Both African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more symptoms at diagnosis. They also tend to have more severe disease than whites. For example, African Americans have more seizures and strokes, while Hispanic/Latinos have more heart problems. We don’t understand why some people seem to have more problems than others.

It’s less common for children under age 15 to have lupus. One exception is babies born to women with lupus. These children may have heart, liver, or skin problems caused by lupus. With good care, most women with lupus can have a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby.