Lupus Risk Factors
While there is no known cause for lupus, and the disease can affect anyone, there is some commonality among lupus risk factors. People can develop lupus at any age, but diagnosis is most common among individuals between the ages of 15 and 45. The disease affects women with a much higher frequency than it affects men. Lupus does affect people of all races. However, lupus occurs much more frequently in African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American populations than it does in Caucasian populations.
The Genetic Link
Researchers believe there may be a genetic link to lupus, but as yet a direct genetic link has not been established. While there is not a direct genetic link to lupus, individuals who have one or more relatives with lupus do have increased odds of developing the disease as compared with people who have no family history of the disease. The more closely a person is related to a person who has lupus, the more likely the person is to develop the disease.
Additionally, medical research has identified genes tied to immune systems function that seem to be associated with a person’s likelihood of developing lupus. However, there is no definitive relationship. Some people who never develop lupus have these genes, and other people who do have lupus do not have these specific genes. Medical research in this area is ongoing.
Hormones
Research also indicates that hormonal factors may play a role in lupus, and it is possible that hormonal changes and/or deficiencies may trigger the onset of lupus in someone who is susceptible to the disease. Lupus does tend to primarily affect women during their child bearing years, when hormonal fluctuations are likely to occur. Another indication that there is a hormonal tie to the occurrence of lupus is that pregnancy seems to trigger lupus in people who are susceptible to the disease. An initial lupus diagnosis frequently occurs during pregnancy, or within a short period of time following childbirth.
Environmental Factors
Some medical researchers believe that people who have a genetic susceptibility to lupus may develop the disease in response to one or more environmental factors. Certain viral and bacterial agents can be triggers for lupus. People who experience recurrent Epstein-Barr viral infections seem to have an increased likelihood of developing lupus. Epstein-Barr is one of the most common viruses affecting humans, and most people contract an Epstein-Barr virus at some point during their lives. Once a person has had an Epstein-Barr virus, the virus exists in a dormant state in the person’s immune system, and can recur if it is re-activated by a triggering event.
Consuming or ingesting certain substances also seems to be a lupus risk factor for certain people. Additionally, some research has suggested that consumption of the artificial sweetener aspartame may trigger lupus in susceptible individuals. Ingestion of certain drugs may even induce lupus in certain situations. Drug-induced lupus is not the same as systemic lupus, and usually goes away once the patient stops taking the drug. Drugs that have been linked to drug-induced lupus include, but are not limited to, Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira, which are often prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
While the direct causes for lupus are unknown, there are known lupus risk factors for the disease that can be watched for. As medical research continues to progress, additional lupus risk factors will likely be identified.
