Overview
Systematic lupus erythematosus, usually shortened to SLE or simply “lupus,” is a chronic inflammatory condition of the immune system. The blood produces unusual antibodies, and this causes the body to attack healthy tissues. It affects women more often than men, and it generally does not appear until the individual reaches adulthood. Exact causes are unknown. However, it seems that certain factors like UV light exposure, heredity, medications, and viruses may play a role. It also appears more frequently in people of Chinese, Japanese, and African American descent.
Lupus can affect any area of the body. Sometimes it is little more than a skin rash (lupus dermatitis) while other times it causes issues in the lungs, brain, heart, joints,
Systematic lupus erythematosus, usually shortened to SLE or simply “lupus,” is a chronic inflammatory condition of the immune system. The blood produces unusual antibodies, and this causes the body to attack healthy tissues. It affects women more often than men, and it generally does not appear until the individual reaches adulthood. Exact causes are unknown. However, it seems that certain factors like UV light exposure, heredity, medications, and viruses may play a role. It also appears more frequently in people of Chinese, Japanese, and African American descent.
Lupus can affect any area of the body. Sometimes it is little more than a skin rash (lupus dermatitis) while other times it causes issues in the lungs, brain, heart, joints,