Lupus definition

[Guest guest]

Lupus Definition:

A chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that may affect many organ

systems including the skin, joints, and internal organs. In lupus, the

body develops antibodies that react against a person's normal tissue,

which can lead to inflammation, arthritis pain, tissue injury and major

organ damage.

When the human body develops an infection, or is subjected to surgery or

trauma, it develops antibodies to fight off the infection or trauma.

Once the infection or illness is under control, the antibodies die off

and the white cell count returns to normal.

In Lupus patients, the antibodies love fighting so much, they mutate and

begin to fight not only " bad germs " but normal body cells as well. The

body in fact begins to destroy itself.

Common signs and symptoms of disease that lupus sufferers experience can

lead to a poor quality of life. Lupus can be mild but also can cause

significant and potentially serious damage to organs such as the lungs,

heart, kidney, and brain. The disease is characterized by flares of

disease activity interspersed with periods of improvement or remission.