What Causes Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system affects the body's own cells and tissues. Symptoms of lupus may vary depending upon the type of lupus and severity of the condition. The common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, high body temperature, muscle pain, joint pain, skin lesions (particularly in the face), mouth sores, hair loss, weight gain and weight loss. In severe cases, it may lead to organ damage, which can be life-threatening. Women are at a higher risk of developing lupus than men. It is also observed that women in the age group 15 - 44 are more susceptible to lupus than other age groups. According to studies conducted in women patients, the hormone estrogen is believed to be a triggering factor for the cause of lupus.

What Causes Lupus?

Like any other autoimmune disease, the exact cause of lupus is not known. However, the most accepted theory is that it is caused due to combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors play a major role in causing lupus, as individuals having a family history of autoimmune disease are more likely to develop lupus. As of now, no gene(s) has been discovered that might be responsible for causing lupus.

About ten percent of lupus patients have relatives or ancestors who have suffered or suffer from lupus condition. On the contrary, children born to lupus patients have only five percent possibility of developing this autoimmune disease. Doctors are of the opinion that an individual having an inherited predisposition of the disease develops lupus when he/she is exposed to triggering factors like strong medications, disease causing microorganisms, hormones, sunlight and stress.

In a normal healthy person, the immune system can be considered as a natural healing system. As soon as the body encounters any foreign particles, the immune system generates antibodies that destroys the incoming particles. Thus, the immune system helps to fight against the entry of any foreign body, be it bacteria, viruse or other microorganisms and prevents the onset of diseases. In a lupus patient, the immune system fails to perform normally, instead it produces autoantibodies that affects the normal body cells. The autoimmune responses of the body may cause inflammation and damage to the skin, joints, blood cells, lungs, heart and kidneys.

Based on the causes and ways of affecting the body, lupus is categorized into four different types, namely, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), drug-induced lupus, discoid lupus and neonatal lupus. Among these, SLE is the most common, and it affects almost all the organs of the body, particularly skin, joints, blood, lungs and kidneys. Discoid lupus is also referred to as cutaneous type, as it affects the skin. Many a times, skin rashes are observed on the face, neck and scalp.

Drug-induced lupus is caused due to side effects of certain medications. It may cause damage to any part of the body; usually, symptoms subside after abstaining from the drugs. Neonatal lupus, as the name suggests, occurs in newborn babies. The antibodies that cause neonatal lupus in babies are passed on from the mother. The baby, after proper treatment, may recover within six months.

Diagnosis of lupus type is essential in order to receive correct treatment. Depending upon the type, the doctor may prescribe medications such as pain killers, anti-inflammatory and antimalarial drugs, immunosuppressive drugs, corticosteroids and other therapies. A patient suffering from lupus can live a normal life, if the symptoms are managed properly.