Lupus** 101

by **CrohnieJane** Sat Jan 14, 2017 5:41 pm

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This can damage many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.
There are several kinds of lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type. It can be mild or severe, and can affect many parts of the body.
Discoid lupus causes a red rash that doesn't go away
Subacute cutaneous lupus causes sores after being out in the sun
Drug-induced lupus is caused by certain medicines. It usually goes away when you stop taking the medicine.
Neonatal lupus, which is rare, affects newborns. It is probably caused by certain antibodies from the mother.
Further Reading:
https://medlineplus.gov/lupus.html
http://www.lupus.org/answers/entry/what-is-lupus