This week, we talk about a sickness called lupus and other autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases affect the immune system, the bodys natural defenses for fighting disease.Autoimmune diseases result from a failure of the bodys own defenses against disease. There are three kinds of lupus. Systemic lupus can affect almost any organ or organ system in the body. When people talk about lupus, they usually mean the systemic form of the disease.Some medicines can cause what is called drug-induced lupus. The signs of the disease can come and go. This makes identifying the disease difficult. Lupus can lead to other health problems. Women with lupus are at greater risk of developing heart disease. And, between thirty and fifty percent of lupus patients will develop lupus-related kidney disease.Experts are not sure what causes lupus. Scientists have identified genes they believe are linked to lupus. Several companies are working to make drugs that can help lupus patients. Groups like the Lupus Foundation of America are working to increase public understanding of the disease.Lupus can be life-threatening if left untreated. Lupus is not the only autoimmune disease. For example, celiac disease is difficult to identify because the signs of the disease are so common. For example, the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association says autoimmune diseases affect about fifty million Americans. The physical, emotional and financial cost of autoimmune diseases is huge. Some autoimmune diseases like lupus and scleroderma are more common among African-Americans. New drugs are being tested to help treat autoimmune diseases. Government agencies are also working to increase knowledge about autoimmune diseases.