Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can be fatal, though with recent medical advances, fatalities are becoming increasingly rare. As with other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. SLE can affect any part of the body, but most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

Lupus (pronounced: loo-pus) is a disease that involves the immune system and affects about 1.5 million Americans; nearly 90% of those diagnosed with the disease are female. Normally, a person's immune system works by producing immunity cells and antibodies, special substances that fight germs and infection if you have lupus, your immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This can damage your joints, skin, blood vessels and organs. There are many kinds of lupus. The most common type, systemic lupus erythematosus, affects many parts of the body

What causes lupus

Environment (Sunlight, stress, certain medications, and viruses might trigger symptoms in people who are prone to getting lupus.)

Hormones (Lupus is more common in women during childbearing years.)Sunlight. Exposure to the sun may bring on lupus skin lesions or trigger an internal response in susceptible people. Exactly why ultraviolet radiation has this effect isn't well understood, but scientists suspect that sunlight may cause skin cells to express certain proteins on their surface.

Although the causes of lupus are not completely understood, the disease is believed to result from an interplay of genetic, environmental (such as ultraviolet light, stress, infections, certain drugs and chemicals) and hormonal factors.Studies have shown that women are more likely to experience autoimmune disorders, such as SLE than men, which may help to explain the higher prevalence of lupus in women.

Symptoms of Lupus

SLE symptoms may develop slowly over months or years, or they may appear suddenly. Symptoms tend to be worse during winter months, perhaps because prolonged exposure to sunlight in the summer causes a gradual build-up of factors that trigger symptoms months later.

Each person with lupus has slightly different symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over time. However, some of the most common symptoms of lupus include painful or swollen joints (arthritis), unexplained fever, and extreme fatigue. A characteristic red skin rash (the so-called butterfly or malar rash) may appear across the nose and cheeks. Affecting what the Lupus Foundation of America estimates is 500,000 to 1.5 million Americans, lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys

Treatment of Lupus

The use of ibuprofen (Morin, Advil) and medications like ibuprofen in treating lupus requires some caution. Ibuprofen and similar drugs can harm kidney function, especially in people who already have kidney problems. In addition, ibuprofen and related agents can rarely cause inflammation of the lining of the brain resulting in a severe headache.

Antimalarial drugs. Although there's no known relationship between lupus and malaria, these medications have proved useful in treating signs and symptoms of lupus. Antimalarials may also prevent flares of the disease. Hydroxy chloroquine (Plaque nil) is the most commonly prescribed antimalarial. Side effects of antimalarial drugs include vision problems and muscle weakness.Lifestyle adjustments, such as getting plenty of rest, reducing stress, eating a balanced diet and quitting smoking

Avoiding excessive sun exposure or regularly applying sunscreens in order to reduce rashes and flares in lupus