Why lupus happens

Some women with lupus are at particularly high risk while pregnant. This includes women with lupus who also have:.

You may also want to seek out an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Most women with lupus will go on to have healthy babies. This type of lupus typically goes away after a few months. However, some infants with neonatal lupus may have serious heart defects. Lupus is rare in children. Similar to lupus in adults, most children who get lupus are female. The common lupus symptoms in children are also similar to those in adults and can include:. Many children who have lupus also have kidney-involved symptoms.

Because of this, initial treatment may be more aggressive. Lupus occurs more frequently in women than in men. Having lupus can also cause some health conditions to occur earlier than they normally would.

These include conditions such as:. Women of specific ethnic groups may be more likely to experience certain symptoms. African American women with lupus are more at risk for seizures and strokes , while Hispanic and Latina women with lupus are at an increased risk of developing heart problems. By focusing on your medications and wellness, you can live as healthy a life as possible. In addition to sticking to your treatment plan, some things that you can do at home to help focus on your wellness include:.

There are many lupus blogs available that you can dive into. Sometimes, coping with a diagnosis of lupus may be challenging. It may help to share your experience with others through in-person or online support groups. See how one blogger navigates living with lupus. There are a variety of complications that lupus-related.

Possible complications of lupus can include problems with the:. People with lupus are also more prone to getting infections. This is due not only to the condition itself, but also the fact that many of the medications used to treat lupus weaken or suppress the immune system. Doing this can not only help to prevent lupus flares, but it can also help prevent organ damage. Lupus nephritis is a serious complication that can occur due to lupus.

It happens when your immune system attacks the part of your kidneys that works to filter your blood. The symptoms can include:. Class I is the least severe while Class VI is the most severe. Fatigue is one of the common symptoms of lupus. According to a study , between 53 to 80 percent of people with lupus experience fatigue as one of their main symptoms. However, there are factors that may contribute to it, including:. Coping with lupus can sometimes be difficult. Depression can occur often in people who have lupus.

According to a study , an estimated 25 percent of people with lupus also have depression. If you notice any of these signs in yourself, seek help. Depression can often be effectively managed through therapy and medication. Drug-induced lupus DIL is an exception due to the medications that cause it. Always remember to stick to your treatment plan. If you find that your medications no longer manage your symptoms, see your healthcare provider immediately.

In the case of a disease like lupus, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body and damages healthy tissues and organs. Media Relations. Contact Us. Annual Report. National Lupus Partners Network. What causes lupus? Genetics Researchers have now identified more than 50 genes which they associate with lupus. Environment Most researchers today think that an environmental agent, such as a virus or possibly a chemical, randomly encountered by a genetically susceptible individual, acts to trigger the disease.

Was this resource helpful? Yes No. Understanding lupus. Medically reviewed: November 28, More resources to help you understand lupus. Get lupus resources and updates. Subscribe to our emails.

Close Choose a chapter. Lupus Foundation of America. Supporting lupus patients and advocates in Arizona. Serving southern Illinois up to and including Springfield, eastern Kansas, and Missouri. Serving northern and central Illinois.

Serving all northern counties in New Jersey, south through Mercer and Ocean counties. Supporting lupus patients and advocates in the Northeast.

However, in rare cases, women with lupus may give birth to children who develop a form of lupus. This is called neonatal lupus. There are different kinds of lupus. This article will focus mainly on systemic lupus erythematosus SLE , but other types include discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal lupus. SLE is the most familiar type of lupus. It is a systemic condition. This means it has an impact throughout the body. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. It can cause inflammation in the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, heart, or a combination of these.

This condition typically goes through cycles. At times of remission, the person will have no symptoms. During a flare-up, the disease is active, and symptoms appear. In discoid lupus erythematosus DLE — or cutaneous lupus — symptoms affect only the skin.

A rash appears on the face, neck, and scalp. The raised areas may become thick and scaly, and scarring may result. The rash may last from a number of days to several years, and it may recur.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. The lesions do not cause scarring. In around 10 percent of people with SLE, symptoms occur because of a reaction to certain prescription drugs.

According to Genetics Home Reference, some 80 drugs may cause the condition. These include some of the drugs that people use to treat seizures and high blood pressure. They also include some thyroid medications, antibiotics , antifungals, and oral contraceptive pills. Drugs that are commonly associated with this form of lupus are:. Most babies born to mothers with SLE are healthy.

However, around 1 percent of women with autoantibodies relating to lupus will have a baby with neonatal lupus. Key symptoms include dry eyes and a dry mouth. At birth, babies with neonatal lupus may have a skin rash, liver problems, and low blood counts. Around 10 percent of them will have anemia. The lesions usually go away after a few weeks. However, some infants have a congenital heart block , in which the heart cannot regulate a normal and rhythmic pumping action.

The infant may need a pacemaker. This can be a life-threatening condition. The immune system protects the body and fights off antigens, such as viruses, bacteria, and germs. It does this by producing proteins called antibodies. White blood cells, or B lymphocytes, produce these antibodies. When a person has an autoimmune condition, such as lupus, the immune system cannot differentiate between unwanted substances, or antigens, and healthy tissue.

As a result, the immune system directs antibodies against both the healthy tissue and the antigens. This causes swelling, pain, and tissue damage. The most common type of autoantibody that develops in people with lupus is an antinuclear antibody ANA. The autoantibodies can then attack the DNA in the nucleus of these cells. This is why lupus affects some organs and not others.

Some genes in the body help the immune system to function. In people with SLE, changes in these genes may stop the immune system from working properly. One possible theory relates to cell death , a natural process that occurs as the body renews its cells, according to Genetics Home Reference.

Some scientists believe that, due to genetic factors, the body does not get rid of cells that have died. Lupus may develop in response to a number of factors. These may be hormonal, genetic, environmental, or a combination of these.

Page last reviewed: 23 September Next review due: 23 September Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you often get:. You might also have: headaches mouth sores high temperature hair loss sensitivity to light causing rashes on uncovered skin Information: Coronavirus COVID update: how to contact a GP It's still important to get help from a GP if you need it.

Important Lupus is better managed if it's found and treated early. Lupus can range from mild to severe How lupus affects the body Severity How it affects the body Mild Joint and skin problems, tiredness Moderate Inflammation of other parts of the skin and body, including your lungs, heart and kidneys Severe Inflammation causing severe damage to the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys can be life threatening.

Video: lupus in children Watch this video to find out how lupus an autoimmune condition affects children. Media last reviewed: 1 July Media review due: 1 July