2 sisters having lupus

I was dig. with lupus in Nov. 06,my little sister was dig. with lupus just last week.I know that dr's aren't forsure if it is genetic,But in our case it looks that way.My great grandmother was indiana,the family said she had arthritis real bad.And dr's not knowing what lupus was back then.My family thinks my great grandmother most likely had lupus.They say she was sick all the time and always in bad pain,and that she was real thin.The picture's I have seen of my great grandmother she looked like she was a old woman,but in fact the family said she died a pretty fair young woman.What my question is-If my great grand mother had lupus and it is genetic why would it wait so many years ,why didn't anyone in the generation's between my g. grandmother and me &my sister get it.It has the family puzzled why me and my sister both have it.

Post Edited (razorbacc) : 5/19/2007 9:26:35 AM (GMT-6)

Hi razorbacc and welcome. Your question is a very good one and I think it's one that researchers are looking into. From my understanding, lupus isn't necessarily a disease that's passed on through genetics, but people can have a genetic predisposition to it and it seems that if someone in your family has it, it can slightly increase the risk for other family members.

In my family, my aunt has lupus and there are numerous cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Now my 9 year old son has some type of autoimmune disease or juvenile arthritis - docs are still trying to figure his case out even though he's been sick for 2 years.

I'm sorry about your diagnosis and your sister's diagnosis. I am hoping that the doctors are able to help both of you. How are you doing now with symptoms and having your disease controlled?

Feel free to ask any questions and know that we are here for you if you are having a bad day.

Take care and I'm glad you joined.

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Welcome razorbac.

Like Hippi said, researchers have been looking into the genetic predispostion to AI diseases for some time.  Sometimes, especially when I'm really sick, it doesnt seem liek they are researching fast enough.  I have not been officially dx yet but my rheumy and neurologist have both said that it is Lupus, I also have Crohns and Sjogrens.  My rheumy relocated his practice to FL, so I had to find another and hoepfully will not have to start all over again.  My brother has a terminal case of Polycystic Kidney Disease (highly genetic) and my mother at 55 has a severe case of Osteoporosis and peripheral neuropathy (also genetic).  How much of all of this is true genetics, or maybe even environmental??  We were born and raised within ten miles of all of the nuclear reactors in Oak Ridge, TN.  Who knows... all we can do now is try to do everything we can to stay rested and manage our diseases.

 

Hi razorbcc, I also want to welcome you to the forum. You are really having a tough week.

I live near one of the major lupus research labs, and for a couple of years saw a rheumy there. They are doing a research study to determine whether or not lupus is genetic and although the study has not been completed, they do think there is a genetic predisposition to the disease, and that is passed through the mother I too am interested to learn more about this. My mother had lupus, I have lupus, and my 19 year old daughter has a high ANA, and reynaud's, so I worry about her. She feels fine, but I'm praying that she doesn't develop it later in life.

I'm so sorry about you and your sister and hope you are both feeling well.

Maybe she would like to join the forum as well. This is a terrific place to come for support, information, and friendship. We all need to vent from time to time so we come here and rave and rant with people who really do understand us. I hope to hear from you again.

Pat

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<sub>Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren's, osteoarthritis, fibro, ibs, renauds, restless leg, hiatal hernia, double vision.

cellcept, neurontin, prednisone, plaquenil, synthroid, triamterene, cymbalta, tramadol, lunesta, actonel, meridia, tricor, aciphex, multivitamin, calcium w vit D, fish oil, aspirin</sub>

My daughter found a site that talks about Lupus and other diseases. 

Ladybug...

I am also Cherokee and Irish.  I'm very proud of my heritage. 

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Lupus is not a genetic disease but you and your sister might have the same set of genes that make your immune system vulnerable to a trigger.  I have MCTD and so does my younger sister.  MCTD is quite rare but it would be wrong to conclude that it is a true genetic disease.  It is not based on the best understanding science has.  No one else in our family ever had any auto immune disease and my sister is much younger.  I was out of the house by the time she was a toddler.

AI diseases run heavy in my family and those with lupus seem to die from kidney failure. I am sure there is some kind of genetic weakness that makes us vulnerable to these diseases. It is all in my mother's mother's family- also the family where the infant death problems come from. My husband is adopted but is Irish, Scottish, and Cherokee and has a small amount of background on his biological family. It is rather sketchy but he was able to get the basic information on where they all came from as far as heritage. It is just sad that they sealed the records when he was 7 by the time he got adopted. I mean a child that old should have been given greater access to the records. His adoption came about due to death and illness not because he wasn't wanted heck his birth mother never even signed away her rights. So sealing the records was just wrong.

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Dx:fibromyalgia 2002, systematic lupus 2005, psoriasis 2006, rheumetoid arthritis 2006, early sjogrens 2006, low positive anti-phospholipid antibodies/lupus anti-coglutant 2001-2004 and 2007, osteoarthritis 2005, Migraine 1994, Compression fracture 2001, Disk problems 2006, Multiple allergies 2006, Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2007, Bipolar type II 2007, possible siezures 2005

Morning Razorbacc - Welcome :)