Lupus is an inflammatory disease that is usually chronic, lasting the rest of a person's life.
The most common form of lupus, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is also generally the most serious.
There is a form of lupus that is usually temporary: drug-induced lupus, resulting from certain medications. It typically goes away after the person stops taking the medication.
Lupus can involve many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood vessels, heart, lungs and brain.
Lupus varies widely in how it affects individuals, ranging from rashes or mild joint pain to life-threatening complications such as stroke.
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.
Lupus is also categorized as a connective tissue disorder because of its effect on bone, cartilage and other connective tissues.
Lupus is not contagious, meaning you can't catch it from someone.
"Lupus" is Latin for wolf. The name may have originated centuries ago as a description for the red rash typical of the disease, which might have been thought to resemble a wolf's bite.
An estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus, including about 1 million with SLE.
More than 16,000 Americans develop lupus every year, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
About 90 percent of lupus patients are women.
The disease usually develops between ages 15 and 45.
Unlike other forms of lupus, drug-induced lupus is more common in men and elderly people.
Lupus is more common and more severe in blacks, Asians, Hispanics and American Indians than in whites, probably because of genetics.
Diagnosis of lupus may take years because the disease can be mistaken for many other conditions and cannot be detected with any one test.
A butterfly-shaped rash on the face is a common sign of lupus, but it can also be caused by other diseases, such as a skin and muscle disorder called dermatomyositis.
Lupus typically features long periods of good health (remissions) interrupted by occasional bouts (flares).
Ways of coping with lupus include medications, exercise, stress management and rest.
Potential complications of lupus include osteoporosis, pregnancy difficulties, kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases, chest pain, brain damage and skin disorders.
With regular visits to a doctor and medication, most lupus patients do not develop serious health problems or have a shortened lifespan, according to the U.S. government.
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