Understanding Lupus: In lupus, something goes wrong with the
immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off
viruses, bacteria, and germs. The result is the production of
auto-antibodies that cause inflammation. I used to try to
understand the biology of all the issues going on with my immune
system, but the more tried to learn about it, the more I
realized the science was a lot more complicated than I wanted to
bend my brain around. The best I could understand was that my
body created antibodies that attack connective tissue cells, and
the result is Lupus. However, now I know this idea is not quite
correct. Recently, I heard a presentation that clearly explained
some ideas about lupus response that I had never heard before,
and it helped me understand the autoimmunity of Lupus a little
better. Dr. Joan T. Merrill, the Medical Director of the Lupus
Foundation of America, recently spoke to lupus patients at an
educational event in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Merrill is also a
research professor in the D