Signs and 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. Even the distinctive rash that gives the d...

Causes
... Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that instead of just attacking foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, the immune system also turns against healthy tissue. This leads to inflamma...

Risk factors
... Although anyone can develop lupus at any age, common risk factors include: Your sex. Women account for the vast majority of lupus cases and are approximately nine times as likely to develop the diseas...

When to seek medical advice
... If you develop an unexplained rash, ongoing fever, persistent aching or fatigue, see your doctor. If you''ve already been diagnosed with lupus, meet with your doctor on a regular basis so that your co...

Screening and diagnosis
... Lupus has been called a disease with a thousand faces because the signs and symptoms vary considerably from person to person. What''s more, problems associated with the disease change over time and ov...