5 things to know about the 'conundrum' of lupus - CNN

It can cause inflammation and pain anywhere in a patient's body.

Because the illness can look different in every patient, it can go undetected and undiagnosed for years.

The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans and at least 5 million people worldwide have some form of lupus.

There are four forms in all: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus confined to the skin, lupus caused by some prescription drugs and a rare lupus that affects infants of women with the disease.

Despite ongoing research into how the disease manifests in patients and what causes it, scientists and other experts sometimes describe the disease as cruel mystery -- which is to say, they still have a lot to learn about it.

"There is a lot about lupus that is still a conundrum to us," said Dr.

"It's treatable, but it can still be very painful and challenging to overcome," said Costenbader, who is also chair of the Lupus Foundation of America's Medical-Scientific Advisory Council.

May 10 is World Lupus Day, and we recently caught up with Costenbader to learn more about the disease.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

CNN: What does it mean that lupus is an autoimmune disease?

Dr.

When lupus first presents, symptoms can include fever, joint pain and rashes.

The goal of some of the new treatments—they're all immunosuppressants—is to keep organ involvement under control.

CNN: Are men or women more likely to get lupus?

Costenbader: Lupus mainly strikes females—nine of 10 people with lupus are female.

This is one of the aspects of the disease we're still studying.

CNN: What are some of the other conundrums experts have identified about lupus?

Costenbader: Lupus is two to three time more common among people of color—African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders—than among people of European ancestry.

We're just starting to have large enough populations involved in the studies to see that the genetics involved with patients may be different.

CNN: Is lupus contagious?

Costenbader: It's not contagious.

With the right meds, and the right physicians and caregivers involved, lupus patients can have kids, hold jobs, and lead productive lives like anybody else.