 [ Symptoms ] what causes lupus [ Disease ] no single factor is known to cause lupus research suggests that a combination of genetic hormonal and immune system factors may be behind it a predisposition to developing the disease appears to be inherited environmental factors ranging from viral and bacterial infections to severe emotional stress or overexposure to sunlight may play a role in provoking or triggering the disease certain drugs such as the blood pressure drug hydralazine and the heart rhythm drug procainamide may cause lupus like symptoms high estrogen levels resulting from pregnancy estrogen replacement therapy and oral contraceptives may aggravate lupus