Lupus

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also called simply lupus, is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body creates antibodies, which instead of protecting the body, attack the bodyâ€™s connective tissues.

This causes a variety of symptoms that are different in each person with SLE. The symptoms may flare up intermittently and then become less severe but they rarely disappear completely. There is no way of preventing lupus and no cure.

The precise cause of SLE is not known, but it is not a contagious disease. It can occur at all ages, but is more common in women of child-bearing age, particularly the teens and early twenties. This is significant because one side-effect of lupus is an increased risk of miscarriage. The incidence of SLE in black and Asian women is higher than in white women. Only 10% of lupus patients are male.