Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. There are different kinds of lupus: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Cutaneous Lupus (affecting only the skin), Drug-Induced, and Neonatal Lupus.

In severe cases, organ damage and failure can occur. Over 90 percent of people with lupus are women between the ages of 15 and 45. However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus too. It is believed that between 10 -15 percent of people with lupus will die prematurely due to complications of lupus. Today, with careful treatment, 80 to 90 percent of people with lupus can expect to live a normal lifespan.

​Symptoms can vary but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. These can periodically get worse (flare-up) and then improve. While there’s no cure for lupus, current treatments focus on improving quality of life through controlling symptoms and minimizing flare-ups.