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Lupus

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Please add profiles for those who have or had Lupus.

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If the PRIMARY Cause of Death was Lupus, please add the profile here: Cause of Death portal.

The Lupus Foundation of America gives a brief description of lupus:

“Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs (“foreign invaders,” like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues (“auto” means “self”) and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.”

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus — a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks — occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.

Some people are born with a tendency toward developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there's no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.

Symptoms:

No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent. Most people with lupus have mild disease characterized by episodes — called flares — when signs and symptoms get worse for a while, then improve or even disappear completely for a time.

The signs and symptoms of lupus that you experience will depend on which body systems are affected by the disease. The most common signs and symptoms include:

  • Fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest
  • Fever over 100°F
  • Muscle or Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
  • Butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body
  • Skin rash or lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure (photosensitivity) This may occur in a butterfly-shaped pattern over cheeks & nose.
  • Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods (Raynaud's phenomenon)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Dry eyes
  • Headaches, confusion and memory loss
  • Hair loss

Causes:

The cause of lupus in most cases is unknown. Lupus occurs when your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your body (autoimmune disease). It's likely that lupus results from a combination of factors both inside and outside the body, including hormones, genetics, and environment.

Hormones:

  • Because nine of every 10 occurrences of lupus are in females, researchers have looked at the relationship between estrogen and lupus.
  • No causal effect has been proven between estrogen, or any other hormone, and lupus.
  • Researchers are now focusing on differences between men and women, beyond hormone levels, which may account for why women are more prone to lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

Genitics:

  • Researchers have now identified more than 50 genes which they associate with lupus.
  • Most of these genes have not been shown to directly cause lupus, they are believed to contribute to it, and in most cases, genes are not enough.
  • Lupus can develop in people with no family history of it, but there are likely to be other autoimmune diseases in some family members.

Environment:

  • It appears that people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environment, such as a virus or possibly a chemical, can trigger lupus.
  • While the environmental elements that can trigger lupus and cause flares aren’t fully known, the most commonly cited are ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB); infections (including the effects of the Epstein-Barr virus), and exposure to silica dust in agricultural or industrial settings.
  • Some examples of potential environmental triggers include:
    • Sunlight: Ultraviolet rays from the sun and/or fluorescent light bulbs
    • Medications: Lupus can be triggered by certain types of blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications and antibiotics. People who have drug-induced lupus usually get better when they stop taking the medication. Rarely, symptoms may persist even after the drug is stopped.
      • Sulfa drugs can make a person more sensitive to the sun (i.e.: Bactrim,Septra, Gantrisin, Orinase, Azulfidine; diuretics
      • Sun-sensitizing tetracycline drugs such as minocycline (Minocin)
      • Penicillin or other antibiotic drugs such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin
    • Infections, colds or viral illnesses
    • Exhaustion
    • Emotional Stress such as divorce, illness, death in the family or other life complications
    • Body Stress such as surgery, physical harm, injury, pregnancy or giving birth

Diagnosis:

  • For the diagnosis of lupus 4 out of 11 signs must be present
  • Testing may include:
    • Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
    • CBC with differential
    • Chest x-ray
    • Serum creatinine
    • Urinalysis

Risk factors:

  • Factors that may increase your risk of lupus include:
    • Your sex. Lupus is more common in women.
    • Age. Although lupus affects people of all ages, it's most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45.
    • Race. Lupus is more common in African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans.

Complications:

  • Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many areas of your body, including your:
    • Kidneys. Lupus can cause serious kidney damage, and kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death among people with lupus.
    • Brain and central nervous system. If your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, vision problems, and even strokes or seizures. Many people with lupus experience memory problems and may have difficulty expressing their thoughts.
    • Blood and blood vessels. Lupus may lead to blood problems, including anemia and increased risk of bleeding or blood clotting. It can also cause inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
    • Lungs. Having lupus increases your chances of developing an inflammation of the chest cavity lining (pleurisy), which can make breathing painful. Bleeding into lungs and pneumonia also are possible.
    • Heart. Lupus can cause inflammation of your heart muscle, your arteries or heart membrane (pericarditis). The risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks increases greatly as well.
  • Having lupus also increases your risk of:
    • Infection. People with lupus are more vulnerable to infection because both the disease and its treatments can weaken the immune system.
    • Cancer. Having lupus appears to increase your risk of cancer; however the risk is small.
    • Bone tissue death (avascular necrosis). This occurs when the blood supply to a bone diminishes, often leading to tiny breaks in the bone and eventually to the bone's collapse.
    • Pregnancy complications. Women with lupus have an increased risk of miscarriage. Lupus increases the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia) and preterm birth. To reduce the risk of these complications, doctors often recommend delaying pregnancy until your disease has been under control for at least six months.

Additional facts & statistics about lupus:

  • Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
  • Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease. However, some treatments for lupus may include immunosuppressant drugs that are also used in chemotherapy.
  • Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
  • Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life as currently there is no cure.
  • More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.
  • Lupus can develop in anyone, male or female, or any age, including children, teenagers, and adults.
  • Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age. Most people with lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44.
  • Treatment is the same for both sexes.
  • Research suggests 4-22% of those with lupus are male, but certain key symptoms may be different. Kidney & skin involvement may be more common among men. Lupus doesn’t diminish a man’s testosterone levels, ability to perform sexually or the potential to become a father, although certain medications can affect sperm counts. (Check with doctor for possible side effects.) (Yes, Lupus does occur in men This site has links to support groups for men.)
  • The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.
  • It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
  • People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus (SLE), especially those of African origin
  • Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians.
  • 70% of lupus cases diagnosed are systemic lupus erythematosus.
  • 20% of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.
  • about 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.

4 different forms of lupus:

  • Systemic lupus accounts for approximately 70 percent of all cases of lupus. In approximately half of these cases, a major organ or tissue in the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain will be affected.
  • Cutaneous lupus (affecting only the skin) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases.
  • Drug-induced lupus accounts for about 10 percent of all lupus cases and is caused by high doses of certain medications. The symptoms of drug induced lupus are similar to systemic lupus; however, symptoms usually subside when the medications are discontinued.
  • Neonatal lupus is a rare condition in which the mother's antibodies affect the fetus. At birth, the baby may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms typically disappear completely after six months with no lasting effects.

Treatment:

  • There is no cure for SLE.
  • Treatment may include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate. Alternative medicine has not been shown to affect the disease.

Prognosis & Life Expectancy:

The prognosis of lupus is better today than ever before. With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span.

It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.

Notables with Lupus:

  1. Health - 9 Celebrities with Lupus. Oct 8, 2015
  2. Ranker - Famous People with Lupus (27 listed)
  • Selena Gomez (1992) - Singer, actress; diagnosed in 2014 with lupus.
  • Lady Gaga ( ) - Singer; diagnosed in 2010 with “borderline positive” for lupus
  • Nick Cannon (1980) - Actor, rapper. entrepreneur, record producer
  • Toni Braxton (1967) - R&B singer-songwriter, pianist, musician, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist; diagnosed in 2008 with lupus (Wikipedia - Toni Braxton)
  • Seal (Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel) (1963) - British soul & R&B singer, songwriter; discoid lupus erythematosus, skin only involved; (Wikipedia - Seal (Musician))
  • Cori Broadus - daughter of Rapper Snoop Dogg
  • Tim Raines (1959) - Baseball player, diagnosed in 1999 (Wikipedia - Tim Raines)
  • Charles Kuralt (1934-1997) - Broadcast journalist died of heart disease, a common complication of lupus
  • Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) - American Southern writer and essayist; died possibly due to stress of surgery; Her father also had lupus. (Wikipedia - Flannery O’Connor
  • Barbara and George Bush’s dog Millie - The former first dog, springer spaniel, Millie, may be the most famous animal with lupus. The disease in canines is very similar to the human version, having the same symptoms, such as fatigue, hair loss, joint pain, and skin problems. Like people, dogs are tested for autoantibodies to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of lupus. And like humans, dogs can lead healthy lives with lupus if they receive effective treatment to quell their overactive immune systems. (Millie lived to be 12.) (from #1 site above)
  • Kyla Scott - Tennis player (Thriving, not just surviving, Apr 26, 2016
  • Michael Jackson (1958-2009) - Singer; diagnosed with lupus in 1986-sensitive to UV light
  • Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989) - Past president of Philippines; died from complications with lupus
  • Sophie Howard (1983) - British model; diagnosed with lupus when a teen; (Wikipedia - Sophie Howard)
  • Trick Daddy (aka Maurice Young) (1974) - American Rapper, actor & producer; (Wikipedia - Trick Daddy)
  • Ray Walston (1914-2001) - Actor; died from lupus related causes
  • Michael Wayne (aka Michael Anthony Morrison) (1934-2003) - Actor; died from lupus related causes
  • Ali Abbasi (1961-2004) - BBC broadcaster; died from complications with lupus; (Wikipedia - Ali Abbasi
  • Inday Ba (1972-2005) - Swedish Actress; died from lupus related causes; (Find A Grave - Inday Ba

Resources & Additional Reading:
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