Women’s Health Equity Initiative:

Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, life-altering disease that causes the body’s autoimmune system to attack its own tissues and organs. Currently, there is no cure for lupus.

• Of the 1.5 million Americans with lupus, 90% are women aged 15-44.
• Lupus is one of the top 20 leading causes of death in women aged 5-64.
• Research shows that 1 in 250 African American women will develop lupus.

Typically, when people speak of lupus, they are referring to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). This is the most common type of lupus, accounting for 70% of all lupus cases. SLE—the focus of this fact sheet—can impact multiple organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys (lupus nephritis), or brain. There are three other types of lupus: cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.

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Learn More About Lupus

Background on Lupus

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Autoimmune Disease Policy Agenda

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Lupus Toolkit

Read The Toolkit

Explore Other Health Conditions in the Women’s Health Equity Initiative