The function of a healthy immune system is to identify foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria and attack them. If you have an autoimmune disease, like lupus, your immune system turns against the normal cells and tissues in your body. Lupus is one of many autoimmune diseases.

Ninety percent of people who get lupus are women, and most develop the condition during their child-bearing years. What causes lupus to develop is still a mystery but it is believed to be due to a combination of your genetic inheritance and what you're exposed to in the environment.

Research is showing that lupus begins to change your immune system several years before you start to develop any noticeable symptoms.

How Does Lupus Progress Over Time?

"It is difficult to predict how lupus will progress in any individual patient. Some people will have more serious disease early and then the disease will get quiet, while others will have a mild form of lupus early that gets worse over time," says Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist and lupus expert at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y.

Early in the course of lupus, problems are caused by the autoimmune attacks on healthy tissue. Later in the course of the disease, the repeated attacks may lead to irreversible damage to organs like the heart and kidneys.

What Is the Prognosis for Patients With Lupus?

A "prognosis" is a prediction of how your disease will affect you over time. The overall prognosis for people with lupus has improved a great deal in recent years. The 5-year survival rate for lupus patients seen at Johns Hopkins University from 1949 to 1953 was only 50 percent; today the 5-year survival rate is over 90 percent and the 20-year survival rate is over 80 percent.

"There is a general rule that about half of lupus patients will have milder disease confined to the skin and musculoskeletal system and the other half will have the more severe form of lupus that attacks the internal organs," notes Dr. Anolik.

Some factors that can affect your prognosis include your:

  • Gender. Men tend to have more severe types of lupus than women. Studies show that men are more likely to have kidney damage and more likely to have an active form of lupus early on in their disease.
  • Age. In people who have their first lupus symptoms before the age of 16, chances are greater that the condition will involve their nervous system and kidneys. People who exhibit their first lupus symptoms after the age of 50 tend to have a worse prognosis.
  • Race. People of Hispanic, Asian, and African descent get lupus more frequently and have a worse prognosis than whites. The increased incidence of lupus in these racial groups is probably due to genetics but some of the poorer prognosis may be due to socioeconomic factors.

What Changes Can You Make to Live Better With Lupus?

The following factors can help:

  • Know your limitations. Avoid becoming overtired or overworked. Get plenty of rest and avoid stress.
  • Learn as much as you can about lupus. Studies show that people with lupus who take an active role in their treatment experience fewer symptoms and require fewer doctor visits.
  • Use your support system. This might include family and friends, or the members of a local lupus support group. The Lupus Foundation of America is a good resource. They provide support groups and patient education resources through a nationwide network of chapters and branches.
  • Be proactive about managing stress. Activities that quiet your mind like meditation and yoga have been shown to be great stress reducers.
  • Take care of your heart by exercising and eating well.
  • Limit your exposure to the sun. People with lupus are often sensitive to sunlight.
  • Keep your medical team informed and be sure to see your doctor regularly.

Lupus is an unpredictable disease. No one can say with certainty how your lupus will progress over time. What is important to know is that people with lupus are living longer, more productive, and healthier lives than ever before. Research is active and there's reason to be hopeful about the future for lupus patients.