FAQs - About Lupus
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What is lupus? +
Lupus is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal… Read More -
What does autoimmune mean? +
Literally it means immune activity directed against the self. The immune system fights the body itself (Auto=self). In autoimmune diseases, the… Read More -
What is inflammation +
Literally it means setting on fire. It is a protective process our body uses when tissues are injured. Inflammation helps… Read More -
What happens in autoimmune diseases like lupus? +
The immune system is designed to protect and defend the body from foreign intruders (bacteria, viruses). You can think of… Read More -
Where did the name come from? +
Lupus is the Latin word for wolf. The term has been associated with the disease since the 10th century, though… Read More -
Who gets lupus? +
Lupus can occur at any age, and in either sex. Nine out of ten people with lupus are women. During… Read More -
What are the symptoms of lupus? +
Symptoms of lupus vary widely depending on the individual case and the form of lupus present. Most people with lupus… Read More -
Are there different kinds of lupus +
There are three types of lupus: including: Discoid or Cutaneous lupus erythematosus affects the skin and hair Systemic lupus erythematosus… Read More -
Lupus in Overlap +
The majority of people with lupus have lupus alone. Between five and thirty percent of people with lupus report having… Read More -
Is lupus contagious? +
No, not even through sexual contact. Read More -
Is lupus a fatal disease? +
Lupus is not a universally fatal disease. In fact, today with close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of the people with… Read More -
When people die of lupus, what do they usually die of? +
Overwhelming infection and kidney failure are the two most common causes of death in people with lupus. Read More -
Is lupus a form of cancer? +
No, lupus is not a form of cancer. It is an autoimmune disease. Read More -
Are people with lupus more likely to develop cancers? +
People with lupus are no more likely to develop cancer than are people in the general population. However, people who… Read More -
Are there any special considerations regarding treatment of cancer in people with lupus? +
Cancer can be treated in many ways; with surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. All people with lupus who have surgery for… Read More -
Is lupus like AIDS? +
No. In AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) the immune system is under active; it is deficient. In lupus the immune… Read More -
My child has lupus. What is the prognosis? +
The prognosis for children and adolescents with systemic lupus has improved dramatically over the past twenty years. With modern therapy,… Read More
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