mmune diseases are illnesses which occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex organization within the body that is designed normally to fight infections and other foreign invaders. Patients with lupus have unusual antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues. Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus. When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus.
             Both discoid and systemic lupus are more common in women than men (about eight times more). The disease can affect all ages, but most commonly begins from age 20 to 45 years. It is more frequent in African-Americans and people of Chinese and Japanese descent.
             Factors which activate autoimmune disturbances that cause lupus are not known. Genetics, viruses, ultraviolet light, and drugs may all play some role. Genetic factors increase the tendency of developing autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disorders are more common among relatives of patients with lupus than the general population. Some scientists postulate that the immune system in lupus patients is more easily activated by external factors like viruses or ultraviolet light. Sometimes, symptoms of lupus can be precipitated or aggravated by only a brief period of sun exposure.
             Certain medications used in treating high blood pressure (such as hydralazine), abnormal heart rhythms (such as procainamide), and epilepsy (such as phenytoin) have been known to activate immune systems and cause lupus. Fortunately, this "drug-induced" lupus is infrequent (less than 5%) and usually resolves when the medications are discontinued.
             It is also known that women patients with systemic lupus not infrequently experience worsening of symptoms prior to the...