Lupus is called "wolf" because the Latin word means wolf, and ancient physicians thought the disfiguring facial sores and rashes resembled a wolf's bite, with the disease said to "devour" flesh like the predator. Another theory suggests the characteristic butterfly-shaped rash (malar rash) on the nose and cheeks looked like markings on a wolf's face, or that the term described aggressive skin ulcers that ate away at tissue.
The word lupus (from the Latin word for wolf) is attributed to the thirteenth century physician Rogerius, who used it to describe erosive facial lesions that were reminiscent of a wolf's bite. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body).
In fact, the very name lupus comes from the Latin word for wolf, a gift from our Roman predecessors who saw a resemblance between lupus rashes and a wolf's bite. Given the limitations of immunology back then, it is an incredibly fitting term.
“Lupus” in Latin means “wolf,” and like the wily predator the autoimmune disease aggressively and relentlessly attacks its prey, in this case pediatric patients.
In 1851 Cazenave renamed erythema centrifugum, calling it lupus erythematosus and gave a classic description of discoid lupus erythematosus. In 1872 Kaposi subdivided lupus into the discoid and systemic forms and introduced the concept of systemic disease with a potentially fatal outcome.
Lupus can attack many different parts of the body. Some call it the cruel mystery. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can strike any part of the body, but the wide range of symptoms can be easily mistaken for something else.
African American women in particular seem to have a higher risk of getting lupus. As many as 1 in 250 will develop the disease. African American and Hispanic women tend to get lupus at a younger age and have more serious symptoms than women of other races or ethnicities. Again, experts think genes could be involved.
Lupus causes
Genetic factors: Having certain genetic variations may make you more likely to have lupus. Hormones: Reactions to certain hormones in your body (especially estrogen) may make you more likely to develop lupus. Environmental factors: These are aspects about where you live, work or spend time.
With modern medicine, most people with lupus (SLE) can expect a near-normal lifespan, with 85-90% surviving at least 10 years post-diagnosis, and many living much longer due to earlier diagnosis and better treatments, though complications like heart disease, infection, and kidney issues remain major concerns. Factors like age at diagnosis, disease severity, race, and treatment adherence significantly influence outcomes, but overall, lupus management has vastly improved survival rates.
Whether your condition is on the list of disabling conditions — Lupus is listed in section 14.02 of the SSA's List of Impairments. Whether you can still do the work you did before — SSA will review the evidence you provided to decide whether lupus limits your ability to do the type of work you did before.
Sunlight. Being in the sun may trigger lupus skin rash or other lupus symptoms. Infections. Having an infection can start lupus or cause some people to have a flare.
In lupus awareness, it's more than a symbol, it reflects the butterfly-shaped rash many people with lupus experience, and it represents transformation, beauty, and hope.
Jackson's dermatologist, Arnold Klein, said he observed in 1983 that Jackson had vitiligo, a condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. He also identified discoid lupus erythematosus in Jackson.
Lupus isn't directly hereditary, meaning it's not passed down from parent to child like some genetic conditions.
Lupus occurs when the immune system, which normally helps protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues. This attack causes inflammation, and in some cases permanent tissue damage, which can be widespread – affecting the skin, joints, heart, lung, kidneys, circulating blood cells, and brain.
The medicines used most often to manage lupus include:
People with lupus may want to avoid or limit eggs, as they are high in cholesterol. Eating foods high in cholesterol may increase your risk of cardiovascular complications from lupus. However, when eaten in moderation, eggs can be beneficial for those with lupus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) represents a risk of malignancy. The mechanism of carcinogenesis is not fully elucidated. Lymphomas are the most reported cancers in lupus. Other hemopathies have been reported, such as leukemia but remain unusual.
Gender: Even though anyone can get lupus, it most often affects women. They're nine to ten times more likely than men to develop it. Age: Lupus can occur at any age, but most are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. Race: Lupus is two to three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women.
Psychological stress associated with exposure to trauma appears to boost the odds of women developing lupus, according to a study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which skin, joints, and internal organs become inflamed.
Everyone's favorite Martian, actor Ray Walston, died from lupus on New Year's Day 2001, six years after being diagnosed with the disease. He was 86. Because lupus is a difficult disease to diagnose, he may have had it for years without knowing it.
Careers That May Trigger Lupus Symptoms
In general, some types of jobs may be harder for people with lupus to manage, including: Physically demanding jobs like construction, waiting tables, or nursing. Outdoor jobs like landscaping or lifeguarding.
Regarding the general population, the top four countries with the highest estimates of SLE incidence were Poland (81.84, 80.33 to 83.51 per 100 000 person-years), the USA (12.13, 11.94 to 12.35 per 100 000 person-years), Barbados (10.37, 2.01 to 36.46 per 100 000 person-years) and China (8.57, 8.37 to 8.77 per 100 000 ...