Why do some people die from lupus?

Historically, lupus caused people to die young. Today, with careful treatment, most people with lupus can expect to live a normal lifespan read more

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. In the majority of cases, the cause of death is kidney failure, followed by cardiovascular disease and infections. read more

Over 90 percent of people with lupus are women between the ages of 15 and 45. Historically, lupus caused people to die young, primarily from kidney failure. Today, with careful treatment, 80 to 90 percent of people with lupus can expect to live a normal lifespan. read more

However, some people will have a positive result even though they do not have lupus. When the test comes back positive, other criteria has have to be examined. In those cases, I compare the patient’s symptoms with a list of 11 criteria for lupus. read more

Until recently, the most common cause of death in people with lupus was kidney failure. Now, with better therapies, access to dialysis, and the possibility of kidney transplantation, the frequency of death from kidney disease has decreased sharply. read more