Nov. 26, 2001 (Ivanhoe Newswire) — A new study links cigarette smoking to the development of lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus affects many systems of the body. The disease includes severe inflammation of blood vessels, kidney disorders and tumors of the skin and nervous system. The cause of this disease is not known. Researchers from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center investigated whether cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption played a role in the development of lupus. Researchers interviewed 125 patients who had the disease and 125 healthy people. All patients were asked about cigarette and alcohol use. Results show smoking significantly increases the risk of developing lupus. This increase remained, even when researchers accounted for other risk factors. As for alcohol, researchers found it did not place an individual at an increased risk for the disease. They report alcohol did not have a protective role against the disease either. This study provides further evidence cigarette smoking may be an associated risk factor for the development of lupus. The results of this study suggest people already at an increased risk for this disease should avoid tobacco and tobacco products.

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