Lupus is three times more common in Black women than in White women. As many as one out of every 250 Black women will get Lupus. Lupus is a disease that can affect many parts of the body. It can affect the joints, the skin, the kidneys, the lungs, the heart, or the brain. Only a few of these parts of the body are affected in most people.
Lupus occurs because something of a malfunction in the immune system.
These antibodies defend the body from attack by germs and viruses. In lupus, however, the immune system becomes overactive and goes out of control. The antibodies become traitors and attack healthy tissues. This attack induces inflammation, causing redness, pain, and swelling in the affected parts of the body. The tendency for the immune system to become overactive may run in families.