The Wolf in Hiding: Understanding Lupus
Lupus has been compared to a ferocious wolf attacking nearly every organ. Why it disproportionately affects women of color, and why education saves lives.
The word 'lupus' comes from lesions that resembled a wolf's bite. This autoimmune disease has been compared to a ferocious wolf attacking almost every organ in the body. Many individuals develop the characteristic red 'butterfly' rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks, sparing the nasolabial folds, markings that echo the face of a wolf.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which proteins called autoantibodies attack healthy organs and tissues, causing inflammation. Approximately 1.5 million Americans are living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Lupus is at least two to three times more prevalent among women of color. Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander individuals are two to three times more likely to develop lupus and its complications than Caucasian individuals, and minority women tend to develop the disease at a younger age. The vast majority of those living with lupus are women, most of childbearing age.
More than half of lupus patients will develop lupus nephritis (kidney disease), and up to two-thirds of children with lupus will develop nephritis. Research shows that patients from racial and ethnic minority populations develop more kidney and neurological manifestations, as well as blood abnormalities like low platelets or antiphospholipid syndrome. Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients may experience more rapid disease progression, complications sooner after diagnosis, and less social support. The annual death rate from lupus is highest among Native Americans and Blacks.
It is my honor and duty to educate everyone, especially the minority community, about this disease, so that individuals have the knowledge to communicate with their physicians and take action to prevent early illness and loss of life.
Dr. Maggie Cadet, MD