Abstract: . . .  develop the disease . Lupus is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians a disparity that remains unexplained. However, it is known that people with different genetic backgrounds may have different risk factors for Lupus. CAUSES OF LUPUS Researchers do not know the exact causes of lupus. However, lupus is NOT infectious. While researchers . . .
. . .  identified all of the specific gene or genes believed responsible for the disease . However, progress is being made in this area. The task is made more complicated by the fact that not all patients with Lupus share the same combination of risk genes.  . . .
. . .  identified all of the specific gene or genes believed responsible for the disease . However, progress is being made in this area. The task is made more complicated by the fact that not all patients with Lupus share the same combination of risk genes.  . . .
. . .  mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease . As the prognosis for lupus has improved significantly over the past few decades, heart disease and other cardiac problems have surfaced as the most serious long-term risk for patients suffering from lupus. Several decades ago, when lupus patients died shortly after developing lupus, the cause of death was often attributed to undiagnosed . . .
. . .  common in lupus patients than the general population. However, these factors alone do not fully Page 5 Lupus and Heart Disease Page 5 of 6 account for the dramatically increased risk. Several factors more specifically related to lupus are proposed to have significant importance. These include chronic inflammation, antiphospholipid antibodies and therapy, especially . . .
. . .  This can be unpredictable from patient to patient; and can change over time. The health effects of lupus range from mild to life-threatening and the disease vacillates between periods of increased activity, called flares, and periods of remission. STATISTICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS Approximately 1.5 million Americans and more than five million individuals worldwide have a form of . . .
. . .  genes believed responsible for the disease . However, progress is being made in this area. The task is made more complicated by the fact that not all patients with Lupus share the same combination of risk genes.  . . .
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