Basic Facts and Statistics About Lupus

WASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to a recent increase
in media interest in lupus, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is providing
a fact sheet about the disease. For additional information, please visit the
LFA website at www.lupus.org.

What is lupus?
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system is
unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any tissue or
organ in the body. Its health effects include skin lesions, heart attacks,
strokes, seizures, miscarriages, and organ failure.

What are the symptoms of lupus?
The most common symptoms include severe joint pain and swelling, overwhelming
fatigue, fevers, skin rashes, pain in the chest on deep breathing, hair loss,
and sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Symptoms come and go and can change
over time, and range from mild to life-threatening.

What are the different forms of lupus?
There are several forms of lupus, the most common being cutaneous and
systemic. Cutaneous lupus is limited to the skin and is often identified by a
rash or skin lesions that appears on sun-exposed areas of the body, such as
the scalp, face, neck, hands, and arms. Cutaneous lupus accounts for
approximately 10% of all cases. Systemic lupus is usually more severe and can
affect almost any organ or system of the body, including the skin, joints,
lungs, kidneys, heart, nervous system, and brain. Approximately 70% of lupus
cases are systemic. In about half of these cases, a major organ will be
affected.

Who develops lupus?
Ninety percent of the people with lupus are women. The disease develops most
often between the ages of 15 and 44, although males and females of any age can
be affected. Lupus is two to three times more common among African Americans,
Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians, than among Caucasians. Based
on several nationwide telephone surveys, the LFA estimates that approximately
1,500,000 Americans have a form of the disease.

What causes lupus?
The exact causes of lupus are unknown. Researchers believe that certain
environmental factors play a role in triggering the disease in people who are
genetically susceptible to developing lupus. These environmental triggers
include infections, ultraviolet light, extreme stress, antibiotics and certain
other drugs, and hormonal changes. Hormonal factors may explain why lupus
occurs more frequently in females than in males. Despite some statements in
the media recently, there is no known connection between childhood abuse and
lupus. Lupus is NOT infectious, rare, or cancerous. It is not related to or
like HIV/AIDS.

About the Lupus Foundation of America
The LFA is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization
dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support,
services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. Founded in 1977, the LFA
has a nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters and support groups and
operates programs of research, education, and advocacy.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Gary Gilkeson MD
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=62747

LFA Media Contacts:

Maggie Maloney
Maloney@lupus.org
202-212-6766

Duane Peters
Peters@lupus.org
202-349-1145

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America

Maggie Maloney, +1-202-212-6766, Maloney@lupus.org, or Duane Peters,
+1-202-349-1145, Peters@lupus.org, both of the Lupus Foundation of America