Interactive Health Tutorial on Lupus/MEDLINEplus
The National Library of Medicine has made this program available to help you understand information about your healthcare.

What is lupus?
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack normal tissue, resulting in inflammation in various parts of the body - particularly the skin, joints, blood system and kidneys. It develops most commonly in women between the ages of 15 and 45. It occurs more often in African-American women than Caucasians.

There are several types of lupus:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the form of lupus most often referred to as lupus. The word systemic means the disease can affect many parts or systems of the body. The symptoms of SLE may be mild or serious.
Discoid lupus erythematosus only affects the skin. A red, raised rash may appear on the face, scalp or elsewhere. The raised areas may become thick and scaly. The rash may last for days or years and may recur. A small percentage of people with discoid lupus later develop SLE.
Drug-induced lupus refers to a form of lupus caused by certain medications. The symptoms go away when the drug is stopped.

The immune system usually protects the body from viruses and bacteria. Lupus compromises the immune system, so that it is unable to distinguish the body's own cells and tissues from foreign invaders. As a result, the immune system attacks the body, causing inflammation, and if the inflammation is not controlled, injury.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because it mimics many other diseases. Often, symptoms develop so slowly that no pattern emerges, or they come and go. Lupus never affects two people in the same way. Early detection and treatment can usually lessen the progression and severity of this potentially debilitating disease. No single test can determine if a person has lupus. Some of the ways doctors diagnose lupus include a complete medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests.

Symptoms of lupus can be controlled with appropriate treatment and most people with this disease can lead active healthy lives. Many options are available for drug treatment. The symptoms and needs of the individual with lupus will help the doctor decide the best therapy.

Adequate rest, exercise, healthy diet, protection from the sun and careful monitoring of medications help a person stay healthy while living with lupus. Education and support programs help a person with lupus face the challenges that lupus brings to their lives.

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