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1. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease in which your body's immune system targets healthy tissue. Normally your immune system works by creating and dispatching antibodies, cells and special chemicals that react against antigens (molecules that lie on the surface of disease-causing viruses and bacteria). In lupus, antibodies attack normal tissue; potential targets for attack include the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart and lungs. In fact, this occurs in all healthy people to some extent. There is nothing bizarre about the autoantibodies or the inflammation of lupus; it is simply a matter of imbalance.

2. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, it is estimated that 1.5 to two million Americans have been diagnosed with lupus, and women constitute at least 90 percent of lupus cases. Lupus is more common in African-Americans, American Indians and Asians than in Caucasians.

3. There are several types of lupus that have specialized names: primary cutaneous lupus (only involving the skin), primary hematologic lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome (only involving blood clotting risk and other disorders of blood cells) lupus nephritis (involving the kidneys), drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus, a temporary reaction to certain drugs, neonatal lupus (lupus in babies born to mothers who had autoantibodies). Systemic lupus is diagnosed when multiple organs become involved with lupus in one person. This does not need to happen all at once; it might occur over time with various kinds of flares. A diagnosis of any of these types of lupus can be confusing because it can be serious and life threatening but is often mild to moderate in most people, especially with careful diagnosis and treatment.

4. The diversity of symptom type and severity can make lupus difficult to diagnose. Mild cases can go undiagnosed for years, and no single lab test can detect the disease. It is important to understand that a positive ANA alone does not give a person a diagnosis of lupus.

5. SLE symptoms tend to wax and wane. Patterns of inactive disease and lupus "flares" come and go. Lupus can be unpredictable; symptoms as well as the flare cycle may change at any time.

6. If you have a parent, child or sibling with lupus, your risk of developing the disease is somewhat higher than the background population, but it is not usually a very high risk and is not considered enough to warrant testing in the absence of symptoms. A positive ANA is common in family members of people with lupus and does not necessarily mean they will develop lupus.

7. Women with lupus can have healthy babies with proper diagnosis and management. It is not advisable to become pregnant if you have had a stroke in the past or if you have active kidney disease (nephritis).

8. Exposure to UV light can lead to a skin rash and worsen other lupus symptoms. If you have lupus, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) when outdoors, and remember that some UV light penetrates glass, including car windows. Try to use sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB light.

9. A chronic, unpredictable, waxing and waning illness is extraordinarily stressful. It may help to develop a plan for dealing with stressful situations that includes a support system of family and friends, health care professionals, and community organizations. It is important to pace yourself, but it is equally important not to put your entire life on hold.

10. Lupus is not preventable or curable, but symptoms can be treated and flares minimized through medications and reasonable lifestyle modifications.