Estrogen is suspected because so many women develop lupus during their childbearing years. And evidence shows that men with an extra x-chromosome are more likely to develop lupus than men with normal chromosome distribution. But significant additional research is required to unlock the secrets of the disease. Most common are procainamide, used for heart abnormalities, and hydralazine, prescribed to control high blood pressure. But only four percent of people taking these drugs develop lupus antibodies, and an even smaller percentage develop the disease.
Symptoms typically disappear after discontinuing the medicines.
It is the least severe and most common form of lupus and is often managed with medications. But treatment of discoid lupus does not prevent its evolution into the more serious systemic lupus. Approximately five to ten percent of people with discoid lupus will develop the systemic variety. Systemic lupus - is the more severe form of the disease and causes thousands of fatalities a year. The 15-year survivability rate for this type of lupus is 50 percent.