Lupus Risk Factors

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• QDo genetics play a role in the development of lupus?

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  A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  Researchers believe that family history and environment have something to do with developing the problem. A family member can pass on a tendency toward lupus and then factors in your environment can affect that tendency. In rare cases, a mother can pass the lupus antibodies to her child during pregnancy creating a condition called neonatal lupus.

  Neonatal lupus is a type of autoimmune disease, meaning that your baby's body is allergic to itself. You do not need to have any signs or symptoms of an autoimmune disease in order to pass along the trait. Environment may also be a factor. Research also suggests that the virus that causes mononucleosis can cause lupus in people who are genetically predisposed to it.

• QWhat increases my baby's risk for neonatal lupus?

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  A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  Neonatal lupus is an autoimmune disorder, which basically means that your child's body is allergic to itself. This can result in a number of symptoms, some temporary and some permanent. Most of the symptoms, such as low blood count, skin rash and liver problems, resolve within the first few months of your child's life. More rarely, babies with neonatal lupus may also experience congenital heart block, which is a serious condition that interferes with heart function.

  Your baby may be at risk for neonatal lupus if you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions.

  • Have you been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome or other autoimmune disease?
  • Have you been told that you have anti-Ro (SSA) or anti-La (SSB) antibodies?

  If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with any of the above conditions, let your doctor know so that they can give you the most appropriate level of prenatal care.

  If you are at risk for having a child with neonatal lupus or if your infant has a rash, your doctor may examine your baby for the disease. The doctor will generally look at your child's liver function and blood count to determine whether they are abnormal, which could signify neonatal lupus. In addition, the doctor may also examine your child for other general indicators of disease, present within the blood.

• QHow does lupus affect the body?

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  A National Kidney Foundation answered

  Kidney damage from lupus can be mild or severe. It can cause damage to the filtering units (glomeruli) of the kidney. Since these filtering units clear your blood of waste, damage to them can cause your kidneys to work poorly or not at all. About 90 percent of people with lupus will have some kidney damage, but only 2-3 percent actually develop kidney disease severe enough to require treatment.

  Kidney disease from lupus may be silent and not cause any symptoms. However, you may have dark urine, flank pain, high blood pressure, weight gain from extra fluid as well as swelling around your eyes and in your hands and feet.

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• QIs lupus serious?

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  A Parkland Medical Center answered

  Lupus is a serious chronic illness. It is an autoimmune disease with no known cure. Normal antibodies are developed by the immune system to ward off illness and disease. With lupus, the antibodies are abnormal and actually attack the body's healthy tissues and organs. Lupus causes inflammation in the joints, organs, and other body tissues. While the disease is serious, treatment works well for most people and most live a normal lifespan under a well-controlled treatment regimen.

• QWhat causes lupus?

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  A National Kidney Foundation answered

  No one knows what causes lupus. Your family history and things in your environment such as infections, viruses, toxic chemicals or pollutants (car fumes and factory smoke, for example) may play a role in causing the disease. Men and women of all ages and races get lupus. However, about 90 percent of people diagnosed with lupus are women. About 1.5 million Americans have lupus.

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• QDoes neonatal lupus run in the family?

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  A Parkland Medical Center answered

  The cause of lupus is not yet known, but research is currently being done to determine the cause. Studies have shown that lupus can run in families, although it is not a strong relationship. In other words, just because you had neonatal lupus does not mean that your child will definitely get it, but there is a higher chance that they will.

• QWhat are the side effects of the medications for lupus?

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  A Parkland Medical Center answered

  Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antimalarial drugs, and corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups of lupus. However, they also have many side effects. Some of these effects include kidney, blood, and heart problems as well as vision and muscle issues. Corticosteroids are especially harmful, causing individuals to gain weight, bruise often, and develop osteoporosis or diabetes. Because corticosteroids can be so detrimental, doctors often prescribe calcium and vitamin D to take along with the corticosteroids.

  Flaxseed and fish oil are alternative treatments that have proven helpful in some cases of lupus. However, these also have side effects. Fish oil can cause nausea and bad breath, while flaxseed can cause stomach discomfort.

• QCan lupus put me at risk for blood clots?

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  A Dr. Diana K. Blythe, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Pediatric Associates

  Lupus can put you at risk for blood clots in a few different ways. First, a good number of people with lupus make antibodies which make clots more likely. Second, people with lupus have chronic inflammation in their blood vessels. Any inflammation of the blood vessels can make clots more likely. Lastly, people with lupus can have chronic pain. Chronic pain can cause people to lead sedentary lifestyles. By slowing down the movement of blood, you have an additional risk factor for blood clots.