Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or "lupus" is a disease that causes inflammation in many different parts of the body. Inflammation is a process that causes part of the body to become hot, swollen, or red. It can affect the skin, causing a rash, or the joints causing arthritis. It can also cause inflammation to organs you cannot see such as kidneys, heart, lungs, and the nervous system. If the inflammation is not treated properly it can sometimes cause permanent damage.

Lupus is called a chronic illness, which means it may go on for many years, perhaps life long. However, effective treatment will mean you can feel well and you may be able, with the guidance of your doctors, to stop your medication.

Living with lupus is often unpredictable. There will be times when your lupus symptoms will be more intense (sometimes called a flare). These flares may be associated with certain triggers such as infections or stress. Noticing these connections can help you manage your health more easily. There can be times when your lupus flares for no apparent reason.

What Causes Lupus?

The cause of lupus is unknown. We know that it involves the immune system being over-active. The immune system is there to protect us from foreign invaders such as germs, bacteria or viruses. In someone with lupus, the immune system gets confused and attacks not just the invader but also the body's own tissues. This is called an auto-immune response. The end result is that different areas of the body become inflamed, and can be damaged. It's a bit like if you have a bee sting, the area around it swells up in order to start the healing process and that is why it's painful to touch. You can't always see the inflammation but it can cause problems within the body, especially when left untreated. It seems likely that there are some genes that may also make someone more likely to develop lupus, although doctors are still doing research to understand this better.

Why Me?

Nothing you did, or did not do, caused you to get lupus. Lupus is not contagious - you didn't catch it from someone, nor can they catch it from you. Lupus is more common in girls and seems to occur more often in some ethnic groups.

There is a tendency to develop lupus in some families, however this is not common. The risk of your brothers and sisters, or, eventually your own children developing lupus is very low.