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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

While doctors don't know what causes lupus in many cases, they have identified factors that may increase your risk of the disease, including:

  • Sex. Lupus is more common in women.
  • Age. Although lupus affects people of all ages, including infants, children and older adults, it's most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40.
  • Race. Lupus is more common in blacks, Hispanics and Asians.
  • Sunlight. Exposure to the sun may bring on lupus skin lesions or trigger an internal response in susceptible people. Exactly why ultraviolet radiation has this effect isn't well understood, but scientists suspect that sunlight may cause skin cells to express certain proteins on their surface. Antibodies that are normally present in the body then latch onto these proteins, initiating an inflammatory response. Damaged skin cells also seem to die more frequently in people with lupus, leading to even more inflammation.
  • Certain prescription medications. Drug-induced lupus results from the long-term use of certain prescription drugs. Although many medications can potentially trigger lupus, examples of drugs most clearly linked with the disease include the antipsychotic chlorpromazine; high blood pressure medications, such as hydralazine (Apresoline); the tuberculosis drug isoniazid and the heart medication procainamide (Pronestyl, Procanbid), among others. It usually takes several months or years of therapy with these drugs before symptoms appear, and even then, only a small percentage of people will ever develop lupus.
  • Infection with Epstein-Barr virus. Almost everyone has been infected with a common human virus called Epstein-Barr virus. Epstein-Barr virus causes nonspecific signs and symptoms, such as fever and sore throat. Once the initial infection subsides, the virus remains dormant in the cells of your immune system unless something reactivates the virus. For reasons that aren't clear, recurrent Epstein-Barr infections seem to increase the risk of developing lupus.
  • Exposure to chemicals. It's difficult to prove that chemicals can cause or increase the risk of a disease. But some studies have shown that people who work in jobs that involve exposure to mercury and silica may have an increased risk of lupus. Smoking cigarettes also may increase your risk of developing lupus.
Complications Causes
References
  1. Lupus: Frequently asked questions. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/lupus.cfm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  2. Schur PH, et al. Overview of the therapy and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  3. Tassiulas LO, et al. Clinical Features and Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154314781-10/0/1807/557.html?tocnode=55733251&fromURL=557.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10075-0_2714. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  4. What causes lupus? Lupus Foundation. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnunderstanding.aspx?articleid=2233&zoneid=523. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  5. Arthritis types - Overview. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ARTHRITIS/arthritis/lupus.htm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  6. Schur PH, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  7. Crow MK. Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/153983706-6/874640406/1492/1029.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50292-5--cesec51_12990. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  8. Schur PH, et al. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  9. Handout on health: Systemic lupus erythematosus. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Lupus/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  10. Living with lupus. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=381&zoneid=76. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  11. Omega-3 supplements: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/omega3/introduction.htm. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  12. Depression. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutindividualized.aspx?articleid=92&zoneid=18. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  13. Appel GB, et al. Secondary glomerular disease. In: Brenner BM, et al. Brenner and Rector's the Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3105-5..50033-5&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3105-5..50033-5--cesec12&uniq=154314781&isbn=978-1-4160-3105-5&sid=875062230. Accessed Aug. 15, 2009.
  14. The renal (kidney) system. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnaffects.aspx?articleid=2297&zoneid=526. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
  15. Bernatsky S. Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2006;54:2550.
  16. Ferri F. Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/155313268-4/877420981/1701/572.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50022-7--subchapter46_12136. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
  17. Infections and immunizations. Lupus Foundation of America. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutliving.aspx?a=93&z=16&page=2.com. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
  18. Lupus research institute highly encouraged by Benlysta trial results. Lupus Research Institute. http://www.lupusresearchinstitute.org/node/593. Accessed Sept. 1, 2009.
  19. Chang-Miller A (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 1, 2009.

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