Being an autoimmune condition means that Lupus is caused by problems with the immune system.  The immune system is the body’s natural defence against illness and infection.  Its job is to detect the presence of foreign bacteria or infectious invaders, and then send in the white blood cells and antibodies to hunt them down and destroy them.

Well, that’s the protocol in a normal, healthy body at least.

For reasons not yet understood, the immune system in people with Lupus ignores the harmful viruses and releases antibodies to start attacking the host body instead.  In other words, it goes rogue.  It does this because it mistakenly thinks foreign material is present. As a result of this unprovoked rampage, healthy tissue, cells and organs are repeatedly attacked and destroyed.