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Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Lupus) that could possibly cause Lupus includes:
Following is a list of common causes of Lupus:
The following conditions have been cited in various sources as potentially causal risk factors related to Lupus:
Race Profile for Lupus: African American women 3 times as common as Caucasian women. Also more common in Hispanic, Asian, and Native American people....more »
Racial Information for Lupus: African Americans with SLE appear to have earlier onset, experience a more severe ... (Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC) ...more »
Racial Details for Lupus: Lupus is three times more common in black women than in white women and is also more common in women of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American... (Source: excerpt from Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC) ...more »
Gender of Patients for Lupus: Women 9:1 (NWHIC); 90% are women aged 20-50....more »
Gender Ratio of Lupus: mainly in women of childbearing age...more »
Gender Profile of Lupus: Ninety percent of lupus patients are women, striking most often between the ages of 15 and 44. (Source: excerpt from Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC) ...more »
To research the causes of Lupus, consider researching the causes of these these diseases that may be similar, or associated with Lupus:
Causes of Types of Lupus: Review the cause informationfor the various types of Lupus:
Causes of Broader Categories of Lupus: Review the causal information about the various more general categories of medical conditions:
Other conditions that might have Lupus as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Lupus. Our database lists the following as having Lupus as a complication of that condition:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Lupus as a symptom.
This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances
may cause your symptoms.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 14 medications causing Lupus
Article excerpts about the
causes of Lupus:
Lupus is a complex disease whose cause is unknown. It is likely that there is no single cause but rather a combination of genetic, environmental, and possibly hormonal factors that work together to cause the disease. The exact cause may differ from one person to another. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS)
Research suggests that genetics plays an important role; however, no specific "lupus gene" has been identified. Instead, it appears that several genes may increase a person's susceptibility to the disease.
The fact that lupus can run in families indicates that its development has a genetic basis. In addition, studies of identical twins have shown that lupus is much more likely to affect both members of a pair of identical twins, who share the exact same set of genes, than two nonidentical twins or other siblings. However, scientists think that genes alone cannot account for who gets lupus. Other factors must also play a role. Some of the factors that scientists are studying include sunlight, stress, certain drugs, and infectious agents such as viruses. Even though a virus might trigger the disease in susceptible individuals, a person cannot "catch" lupus from someone else.
In lupus, the body's immune system does not work as it should. A healthy immune system produces substances called antibodies that help fight and destroy viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances that invade the body. In lupus, the immune system produces antibodies against the body’s healthy cells and tissues. These antibodies, called autoantibodies ("auto" means self), contribute to the inflammation of various parts of the body, causing damage and altering the function of target organs and tissues. In addition, some autoantibodies join with substances from the body’s own cells or tissues to form molecules called immune complexes. A buildup of these immune complexes in the body also contributes to inflammation and tissue injury in people with lupus. Researchers do not yet understand all of the factors that cause inflammation and tissue damage in lupus, and this is an active area of research. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS)
Although the cause of lupus is unknown, it is likely a combination of genetic, environmental, and possibly hormonal factors. The exact cause may differ from one person to another. Research suggests that genetics plays an important role; and it appears that several genes may be responsible for increasing a person's susceptibility to the disease. Most cases of SLE occur sporadically, indicating that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of the disease. Some of the factors that scientists are studying include sunlight, stress, certain drugs, and infectious agents such as viruses. Even though a virus might trigger the disease in susceptible individuals, a person cannot "catch" lupus from someone else. (Source: excerpt from Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC)
The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Lupus:
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Lupus may be found in:
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