Journal of Vasculitis

Lupus is a long-term disease

Abstract

Jude Lim

Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs. Lupus is a disease that predominantly affects women, often striking at the prime of life,” Somers says. “Through the MILES Program, we previously showed that for black women, who are disproportionately affected by lupus, their risk of lupus is highest in their Twentys.40% of black females with lupus have kidney involvement, and 15% have end-stage renal disease”.