Systemic lupus erythematosus
The rate of SLE varies between countries, ethnicity, and sex, and changes over time. In the United States, one estimate of the rate of SLE is 53 per 100,000; other estimates range from 322,000 to over 1 million. In Northern Europe the rate is about 40 per 100,000 people. SLE occurs more frequently and with greater severity among those of non-European descent. That rate has been found to be as high as 159 per 100,000 among those of Afro-Caribbean descent. Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus generally presents between the ages of 3 and 15 and is four times more common in girls.
Lupus Foundation of America
The Lupus Foundation of America’s National Research Program is focused on identifying the causes of lupus, accelerating development of new treatments and finding cures. It employs a three-pronged approach to advancing the science and medicine of lupus - lead efforts to improve lives today and find cures, fund direct grants to researchers in medical institutions across the U.S. to advance the lupus research field, and advocate for new money and expanded resources from the biggest funders in research-the federal government and the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. The Lupus Foundation of America’s Center for Clinical Trials Education also provides a comprehensive search tool for clinical trials, points to consider before participating in a clinical trial and a guide to clinical research terms.