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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that instead of just attacking foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, your immune system also turns against healthy tissue. This leads to inflammation and damage to various parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain.

Doctors don't know what causes autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. It's likely that lupus results from a combination of your genetics and your environment. Doctors believe that you may inherit a predisposition to lupus, but not lupus itself. Instead, people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may only develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger lupus, such as a medication or a virus.

Types of lupus
Four types of lupus exist. Although similar, each type of lupus has a different prognosis and treatment.

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus can affect nearly any part of your body. Body systems most commonly involved include the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys and blood. When people talk about lupus, they're usually referring to systemic lupus erythematosus.
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus affects only the skin. People with discoid lupus, also called cutaneous lupus, experience a circular rash on the face, neck and scalp. A small number of people with discoid lupus may develop systemic lupus erythematosus, though it isn't possible to predict who will develop the more serious form of lupus.
  • Drug-induced lupus erythematosus occurs after you take certain prescription medications. Not everyone who takes these medications develops lupus. Drug-induced lupus affects a wide variety of body systems. Signs and symptoms usually go away when you stop taking the medication that caused your lupus.
  • Neonatal lupus is a rare form of lupus that affects newborn babies. A mother with certain antibodies that are linked to autoimmune diseases can pass them to the developing fetus — even if the mother has no signs or symptoms of an autoimmune disease. The antibodies can cause neonatal lupus. A baby with neonatal lupus may experience a rash in the weeks following birth. Neonatal lupus may last several months before disappearing. More-serious cases can cause a problem with the electrical system of the heart (congenital heart block).
Risk factors Symptoms
References
  1. Lupus: Frequently asked questions. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/lupus.cfm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  2. Schur PH, et al. Overview of the therapy and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  3. Tassiulas LO, et al. Clinical Features and Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154314781-10/0/1807/557.html?tocnode=55733251&fromURL=557.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10075-0_2714. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  4. What causes lupus? Lupus Foundation. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnunderstanding.aspx?articleid=2233&zoneid=523. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  5. Arthritis types - Overview. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ARTHRITIS/arthritis/lupus.htm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  6. Schur PH, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  7. Crow MK. Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/153983706-6/874640406/1492/1029.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50292-5--cesec51_12990. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  8. Schur PH, et al. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  9. Handout on health: Systemic lupus erythematosus. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Lupus/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  10. Living with lupus. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=381&zoneid=76. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  11. Omega-3 supplements: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/omega3/introduction.htm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  12. Depression. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutindividualized.aspx?articleid=92&zoneid=18. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  13. Appel GB, et al. Secondary glomerular disease. In: Brenner BM, et al. Brenner and Rector's the Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3105-5..50033-5&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3105-5..50033-5--cesec12&uniq=154314781&isbn=978-1-4160-3105-5&sid=875062230. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  14. The renal (kidney) system. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnaffects.aspx?articleid=2297&zoneid=526. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
  15. Bernatsky S. Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2006;54:2550.
  16. Ferri F. Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/155313268-4/877420981/1701/572.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50022-7--subchapter46_12136. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
  17. Infections and immunizations. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutliving.aspx?a=93&z=16&page=2.com. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
  18. Lupus research institute highly encouraged by Benlysta trial results. Lupus Research Institute. http://www.lupusresearchinstitute.org/node/593. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
  19. Chang-Miller A (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 1, 2009.

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