Patient/caregiver were instructed on factors triggering lupus as follows:

  • Lupus is an autoimmune condition, where one’s immune system attacks their own body tissues and organs.
  • Many factors can act as triggers, initiating the attack of immune system on their own body tissues and organs, thus leading to lupus activation.
  • Triggers initiating lupus can be a combination of one’s genetics, natural environment they live in, their various other health conditions, and intake of any medications.
  • So, the triggers can vary widely from individual to individual with lupus history and it could be a combination of many factors triggering a lupus episode.
  • Some potential triggers for lupus activation could include:
  1. Carrying certain genes in the genetic make-up or having some mutation in the genes can increase one’s chance to present with a flare-up of lupus.
  2. Certain ethnic groups could share some common genes, which can make them more likely to present with flare-up of lupus episodes. Historically, individuals belonging to African-American, Hispanic, and Asian races increasingly present with lupus in comparison to others.
  3. Research shows that estrogens contribute to stronger and sensitive immune system in women. This stronger and sensitive immune system in women could attack their own body tissues and organs, thus leading to lupus activation and make them more predisposed to presentation with lupus.
  4. Exposure to various environmental elements, such as, UV rays in sunlight, infectious micro-organisms, and/or pollutants/toxins can increase the risk for flare-up of lupus in individuals with history.
  5. Intake of medications belonging to certain drug classes/groups, such as, antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotics can excessively stimulate the immune system in individuals predisposed to lupus, thus triggering a lupus cascade.
  6. Exposure to stressful events, such as, sudden change of employment, sharply increased workload, job/income loss, death of a loved one, separation/divorce, serious injury, organ loss, undergoing complicated surgical procedures, and prolonged hospitalization can contribute to triggering a lupus flare-up in individuals with history.