DNA Testing for Lupus
This Test is not Available
Genetic health testing is a physician ordered test in the USA. The physician in question will need to authorise the testing. IBDNA does not provide this test to USA residents.
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that affects the body’s tissues by causing inflammation, pain and rashes. There are two primary types of lupus which are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Discoid Lupus Erythematosus. Whereas the more common type of lupus, SLE, affects the entire body, Discoid Lupus Erythematosus affects only the skin. In the UK, Systemic Lupus is not an especially common condition, affecting around 0.03% of the population and markedly more prevalent in people of an Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and Asian descent. As such, doctors have long suspected that the condition has a genetic cause in many instances, which is why DNA testing lupus has been so important. At present, there is no known cure for lupus, the symptoms of which are typically treated with corticosteroids and Plaquenil.
Advances in genetic predisposition for DNA testing lupus have revealed that the condition does have a genetic makeup; however, a genetic predisposition to lupus does not significantly increase the chances that an individual will develop the condition. In fact, research has shown that lupus is a multigenic disease, which means that numerous genes play a role in its development. Current research has shown that a person whose direct relative has Lupus is slightly more at risk of developing the condition but, overall, the chances remain under 5%. The key factor to consider in DNA screening for lupus is that the condition itself is often confused for many other autoimmune diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, so family members with skin rashes or Arthritis, for example, may benefit from genetic testing.
For support and more information about lupus, please visit the Lupus Foundation of America website.
Genetic Health Testing and The FDA – Important Note
Genetic health testing is a physician ordered test in the USA. The physician in question will need to authorise the testing. IBDNA does not provide this test to USA residents.
