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Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because it can affect almost any organ in the body and its symptoms — including joint pain, fatigue, muscle pain, rash, mouth ulcers, and hair loss — vary widely from patient to patient. That is one of the greatest challenges of treating the disease for both doctors and their patients.

About Lupus
Lupus is a rheumatic (having to do with the muscles, joints, and connective tissue) condition that affects 1.5 million people in the United States, including an estimated 10,000 children. Nearly 90% of those diagnosed with lupus are female. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly works against the body's own tissues. A healthy immune system produces proteins called antibodies that normally protect the body against bacteria and viruses that cause infections. But when someone has lupus, the immune system can't tell the difference between the body's healthy cells and bacteria and viruses, so the antibodies attack the body's healthy cells.

What Causes Lupus?
Although the cause of lupus is unknown, researchers think that many factors may trigger the disease. Genetics might play a role. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to lupus that is then activated by an infection, certain medications, or extreme physical or emotional stress. The hormone estrogen also may play a role and could help explain why it's more common in females than males. Lupus als o occurs more frequently in African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans than in caucasians [] [] [] http://year9diseases.wikispaces.com/Lupus [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []# []. [] [] [] []
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