Urgent call to ‘make lupus visible’ as new research shows the impact the autoimmune disease has on patients’ lives

Research shows more than 70% of those living with lupus in Ireland report condition negatively impacts their ability to work full-time

By Danielle Norton May 10, 2024 Updated May 31, 2024 4 min read

10 May 2024: New lupus awareness campaign from Arthritis Ireland and AstraZeneca Ireland marks World Lupus Day on 10 May. Pictured in the gardens of Malahide Castle is Ruth Levins, centre from Drogheda who lives with lupus, Arthritis Ireland chief executive Gráinne O’Leary, right and Jennifer Cimerman, Communication and Patient Engagement Manager at AstraZeneca Ireland. The campaign is urging those affected by lupus, and their loved ones, to use the hashtag #MakeLupusVisible on social media to increase awareness of the disease Picture credit: Damien Eagers / Julien Behal Photography NO REPRO FEE

Arthritis Ireland and AstraZeneca Ireland have come together this World Lupus Day to call for people living with lupus to share their stories to increase visibility of the autoimmune condition and its impact on patients.

Lupus, also known as Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is a complex autoimmune disease that is experienced differently by each person and causes a variety of symptoms, including skin rash, joint pain, swelling and fevers.[2] It is an often under recognised condition that can take many years to be diagnosed[3] and disproportionately affects women within the 15–45-year-old age cohort.[4]