In approximately 10 percent of patients, discoid lupus can evolve into the systemic form of the disease, which can affect almost any organ or system of the body. Treatment of discoid lupus will not prevent its progression to the systemic form. Generally, no two people with systemic lupus will have identical symptoms. Only about 4 percent of the people who take these drugs will develop the antibodies suggestive of lupus. The symptoms usually fade when the medications are discontinued.
Lupus affects women much more commonly than men.