Description:  *SLE is a chronic, multi-system, auto-immune disease in which the body's internal system of defenses attacks its own normal tissues, in Brittany's case -- her own organs. The disease affects both women and men. It may occur at any age, but appears most often between the ages of 10 and 50 years. The course of the ... Read More *SLE is a chronic, multi-system, auto-immune disease in which the body's internal system of defenses attacks its own normal tissues, in Brittany's case -- her own organs. The disease affects both women and men. It may occur at any age, but appears most often between the ages of 10 and 50 years. The course of the disease may vary from a mild episodic illness to a severe fatal disease. This abnormal autoimmune response can result in damage to many parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, lungs, heart, brain, intestines, and kidneys. Kidney problems (Nephritis) occur in 30% to 50% of Lupus patients and many progress to kidney failure. Lupus causes not only damage to many parts of the body, but the more severe forms have resulted in death. SLE can have a 10-year survival rate of 80% to 90%, however with the more severe Lupus, which does not respond to standard treatments, there is a 50% mortality rate in only 5 years. Currently, no single standard therapy for treatment of severe SLE exists. *International Scleroderma Network www.sclero.org and clinicaltrials.com Close