Lupus Living With Can You Die From Lupus? By Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH linkedin Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH, is a medical writer and program development manager at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities. Learn about our editorial process Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD on January 25, 2020 linkedin Grant Hughes, MD, is board-certified in rheumatology and is the head of rheumatology at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Grant Hughes, MD Updated on January 26, 2020 Print Lupus Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping BSIP / UIG / Getty Images For many people who have been diagnosed with lupus (systemic lupus eryethmatosus), the first question that comes to mind may be: Can you die from lupus? The short answer is, unfortunately, yes. However, most people living with lupus today can expect to live a normal lifespan. Lupus: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Coping How Long Can You Live With Lupus? There is no cure for lupus, so this is a question many newly diagnosed patients ask — or want to ask. Thanks to advances over the past two decades, more than 95% of people with lupus survive 10 years or more, with many achieving a normal lifespan. Lupus was once much more deadly. Only 50% of people diagnosed with lupus in 1955 were expected to live for more than four years. Researchers say the survival rate for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has improved for many reasons. These include: Improvements in the classification of patientsEarlier diagnosisInclusion of milder cases into survival statisticsMore aggressive treatment such as the use of cytotoxic/immunosuppressive agents and pulse high-dose prednisoneAdvances in the treatment of hypertension, infections and renal failure, including renal dialysis and transplantation Could It Be Lupus? Signs and Symptoms How Lupus Damages the Body Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disorder. In people who have lupus, the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues, which causes pain, swelling and organ damage, among other symptoms. Lupus can damage many parts of the body, including the: JointsSkinKidneysHeartLungsBlood vesselsBrain Common Triggers of Autoimmune Reactions When Lupus Is Fatal Kidney failure used to be the most common cause of lupus mortality. Today, when lupus shortens someone’s lifespan, it is most often attributed to long-term complications of the disease, especially infection, kidney failure, and cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart attack and stroke). Evidence suggests that active disease causes about a third of lupus deaths, while complications of the disease or its treatment (especially corticosteroids and immunosuppressants) cause about two-thirds of lupus deaths. Lupus complications are increasingly related to aggressive treatments. These treatments can extend a patient's life considerably, but their side effects may eventually take a health toll. The severity of your lupus factors into your life expectancy. It's been shown that people with more severe lupus tend to have shorter lifespans. This is probably because patients with severe disease have more disease complications and get more aggressive treatment. A diagnosis of severe lupus does not necessarily mean an early death. A study published in 2009 found the life expectancy of women with lupus nephritis has improved so much that it now approaches that of the general population. The bottom line: Don't lose hope. You can live a full lifespan with a lupus diagnosis. Lupus Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mak A, Cheung MW, Chiew HJ, Liu Y, Ho RC. Global trend of survival and damage of systemic lupus erythematosus: meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies from the 1950s to 2000s. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2012;41(6):830-9. doi: Ocampo-piraquive V, Nieto-aristizábal I, Cañas CA, Tobón GJ. Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: causes, predictors and interventions. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2018;14(12):1043-1053. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2018.1538789 Maidhof W, Hilas O. Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options. P T. 2012;37(4):240-9. Additional Reading Doria, A., Iaccarino, L., Ghirardello, A., et al. (2006.) Long-term prognosis and causes of death in systemic lupus erythematosus. The American Journal of Medicine. Living with Lupus. Lupus Foundation of America. February 2008. Living with Lupus. The Lupus Research Institute. Stratta, P., Mesiano, P., Campo, A., et al. (2009.) Life expectancy of women with lupus nephritis now approaches that of the general population. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. Systemic lupus erythematosus. University of Maryland Medical Center. March 14, 2013. What are the most common causes of death in people with lupus? Lupus Foundation of America. July 18, 2013. What Is Lupus? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. November 2014.