About Lupus

 "Lupus is the name given to a group of chronic autoimmune diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and serious type of lupus. With SLE, the immune system that normally protects the body from germs, viruses, and bacteria begins to malfunction. It generates antibodies that attack healthy tissue in different parts of the body. These tissues become inflamed as a result. Inflammation can occur in the skin, muscles, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and the nervous system. SLE can fluctuate between active periods (flare-ups or exacerbation), and times of minimal symptoms or no symptoms (remission).

Other types of lupus are discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE). With these types of lupus, skin rashes and sun sensitivity are the main symptoms, and the internal organs are not attacked. However, approximately 10% of people diagnosed with these more limited forms of lupus will go on to develop symptoms of SLE." From the Arthritis Society Canada website www.arthritis.ca

"Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmuneconnective tissue disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.  SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions." From Wikipedia www.wikipedia.com

Links to Learn More About Lupus

Lupus Foundation (USA) http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html —————

Lupus Society Alberta http://www.lupus.ab.ca/ —————

Lupus Canada http://www.lupuscanada.org/ —————

MERCK Manual http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec04/ch032/ch032g.html?qt=Systemic lupus erythematosus&alt=sh —————

Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115 —————

Arthritis Association (USA) http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=29 —————

Arthritis Society Canada http://www.arthritis.ca/types%20of%20arthritis/lupus/default.asp?s=1&province=ca