It is more likely to be seen in women. It is 9 times more common in women than men. The onset is mostly at a young age. It starts after the age of 50 in only one in 15 patients. Lupus cases that start after the age of 50 are also generally milder. In some people, the symptoms occur during pregnancy. Rarely, it can start in childhood.
There are proteins called “antibodies” that are produced in the body to be used in defense against microbes. In lupus, antibodies are produced that also damage the body’s own cells. Although it is not known why such a situation occurs, environmental, hormonal and genetic factors are thought to play a role.
Although genetic factors are effective, lupus does not pass directly from parent to child. However, an individual with a close relative with lupus has a higher risk of contracting this disease throughout his life than other individuals. If you have lupus, there is a 1% chance that your child will have lupus in the future. Lupus is not contagious, so you can’t get the disease from someone else.
With modern treatments, the course of lupus has improved in recent years. However, the course of the disease can still vary from person to person, cannot be predicted, and can cause life-threatening risks in those with serious organ involvement.
It is not possible to predict how the disease will progress. For this reason, it is beneficial to follow your doctor closely. In this way, early detection and effective treatment of important organ involvement may be possible. It is important to follow the recommendations made by your doctor considering your risk factors in order to prevent serious complications before they develop.
