Lupus Foundation of America, Memphis Chapter

Lupus

If you would like to find a doctor or a specialist in your area of town here is a great link.

HealthGrades (Dr's. Info)

http://www.healthgrades.com

```````````````

The American College of Rheumatology - http://www.rheumatology.org/index.asp
see "Find a Rheumatologist"

```````````````

The American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
see "Find a Dermatologist"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* All information provided by the LFA *

What is Lupus
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The body's immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens. In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self." These antibodies, called "auto-antibodies," react with the "self" antigens to form immune complexes. The immune complexes build up in the tissues and can cause inflammation, injury to tissues, and pain.
For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. More than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year. It is estimated that 500,000 to 1.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with lupus.

CAUSE
The cause(s) of lupus is unknown, but there are environmental and genetic factors involved. While scientists believe there is a genetic predisposition to the disease, it is known that environmental factors also play a critical role in triggering lupus. Some of the environmental factors that may trigger the disease are: infections, antibiotics (especially those in the sulfa and penicillin groups), ultraviolet light, extreme stress, certain drugs, and hormones.
Although lupus is known to occur within families, there is no known gene or genes which are thought to cause the illness. There are recent discoveries of a gene on chromosome 1 which is associated with lupus in certain families. Previously, genes on chromosome 6 called "immune response genes" were also associated with the disease. Only 10 percent of lupus patients will have a close relative (parent or sibling) who already has or may develop lupus. Statistics show that only about 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.

Lupus is often called a "woman's disease" despite the fact that many men are affected. Lupus can occur at any age, and in either sex, although it occurs 10-15 times more frequently among adult females than among adult males after puberty or after the emergence into sexual maturity. The symptoms of the disease are the same in men and women. People of African, American Indian, and Asian origin are thought to develop the disease more frequently than Caucasian women. The reasons for this ethnic selection are not clear.

Hormonal factors may explain why lupus occurs more frequently in females than in males. The increase of disease symptoms before menstrual periods and/or during pregnancy support the belief that hormones, particularly estrogen, may somewhat regulate the way the disease progresses. However, the exact reason for the greater prevalence of lupus in women, and the cyclic increase in symptoms, is unknown.

Symptoms of Lupus

Although lupus can affect any part of the body, most people experience symptoms in only a few organs. Table 1 lists the most common symptoms of people with lupus.

TABLE 1
TABLE OF SYMPTOMS
Definition of Symptoms
Achy joints (arthralgia) 95%
Fever more than 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) 90%
Arthritis (swollen joints) 90%
Prolonged or extreme fatigue 81%
Skin Rashes 74%
Anemia 71%
Kidney Involvement 50%
Pain in the chest on deep breathing (pleurisy) 45%
Butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose 42%
Sun or light sensitivity (photosensitivity) 30%
Hair loss 27%
Abnormal blood clotting problems 20%
Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold) 17%
Seizures 15%
Mouth or nose ulcers 12%

Lupus Foundation of America, Memphis Chapter

Memphis Chapter Mission Statement

LFA of Memphis

Lupus

Lupus Links

My Favorite Products