Lupus

Lupus occurs when an unknown trigger causes a person’s own immune system to attack their tissues

Lupus damages the tissues and producing widespread inflammation. There is no known cause or cure for lupus; however, treatments are available.

People with lupus have weakened immune systems, which can make them more likely to develop complications from the flu. Some medications used to treat inflammatory arthritis can also weaken the immune system.

Lupus by the Numbers

• The medical costs of LUPUS total $51,295 (mean total over a 4 year period) (Kan 2016)
• 15-20% of patients with LUPUS will be diagnosed before age 18 (Weiss 2012)
• Lupus appears to be more common in urban than rural areas (Chakravarty 2007)
• A longitudinal study among predominantly middle-class white women with systemic lupus erythematosus indicated that more than 60 percent were out of the workforce 20 years after the diagnosis. (Yelin 2007)
• About 15 to 20 percent of all systemic lupus erythematosus cases develops before the age of 18 years and constitutes pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus. (Weiss 2012)
• Lupus nephritis is a severe manifestation of the disease, affecting up to 60 percent of patients at some point. (Singh 2009)
• The overall reported prevalence of end-stage renal disease caused by lupus nephritis has increased 56 percent over the 10-year period of 2000 to 2010. (NIH 2010)
• Cross-sectional studies report the prevalence of obesity among adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at around 28 percent. (Chaiamnuay 2007)