All Lupus Cases May Be Linked To a Common Virus, Study Finds (nbcnews.com)
(Friday November 14, 2025 @11:48AM (msmash)
from the breakthrough-findings dept.)
- Reference: 0180071832
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/11/14/0836231/all-lupus-cases-may-be-linked-to-a-common-virus-study-finds
- Source link: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/lupus-cause-epstein-barr-virus-study-rcna243364
One of the most common viruses in the world [1]could be the cause of lupus , an autoimmune disease with wide-ranging symptoms, according to a new study. From a report:
> Until now, lupus was somewhat mysterious: No single root cause of the disease had been found, and while there is no cure, there are medications that can treat it.
>
> The [2]research , published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggests that Epstein-Barr virus -- which 95% of people acquire at some point in life -- could cause lupus by driving the body to attack its own healthy cells.
>
> It adds to mounting evidence that Epstein-Barr is associated with multiple long-term health issues, including other autoimmune conditions. As this evidence stacks up, scientists have accelerated calls for a vaccine that targets the virus.
>
> "If we now better understand how this fastidious virus is responsible for autoimmune diseases, I think it's time to figure out how to prevent it," said Dr. Anca Askanase, clinical director of the Lupus Center at Columbia University, who wasn't involved in the new research.
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/lupus-cause-epstein-barr-virus-study-rcna243364
[2] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.ady0210
> Until now, lupus was somewhat mysterious: No single root cause of the disease had been found, and while there is no cure, there are medications that can treat it.
>
> The [2]research , published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggests that Epstein-Barr virus -- which 95% of people acquire at some point in life -- could cause lupus by driving the body to attack its own healthy cells.
>
> It adds to mounting evidence that Epstein-Barr is associated with multiple long-term health issues, including other autoimmune conditions. As this evidence stacks up, scientists have accelerated calls for a vaccine that targets the virus.
>
> "If we now better understand how this fastidious virus is responsible for autoimmune diseases, I think it's time to figure out how to prevent it," said Dr. Anca Askanase, clinical director of the Lupus Center at Columbia University, who wasn't involved in the new research.
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/lupus-cause-epstein-barr-virus-study-rcna243364
[2] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.ady0210
Late for Halloween, but way scarier! (Score:1)
by Anonymous Coward
[1]https://www.anthro1.net/p/are-... [anthro1.net]
Posting Anon cause of anti-science hate.
[1] https://www.anthro1.net/p/are-tiny-parasites-messing-with-our
Files (Score:1)
by bugs2squash ( 1132591 )
Something good did come out of releasing the Epstein files
Also MS (Score:1)
by sikiriki ( 6723224 )
that link was established, maybe not the only cause.
they got it wrong (Score:1)
by bussdriver ( 620565 )
The death isn't Barr killing Epstein, it's Trump vaguely telling Barr to kill Epstein. It is probably not appropriate to name a mind virus that mobsters used for generations after a recent example.
I don't see how (Score:2)
by EvilSS ( 557649 )
I've been assured by the best non-experts in the world on social media that viruses don't exist. Personally I think it's caused by the body trying detox all those chemtrail poisons they spray us with.
It's not Lupus (Score:5, Funny)
At least according to Dr. House.
Re: (Score:3)
Except for that one time it was Lupus!
Re: (Score:2)
Also unsure how "fastidious" can be used as a description of a virus.
Re: (Score:2)
> Also unsure how "fastidious" can be used as a description of a virus.
TIL that the archaic definition of "fastidious," based on the original latin root, is "disgusting" or "disagreeable." Which, to be fair, is a label I would apply to a virus that causes something as horrible as Lupus.
Every knows (Score:3)
It is always DNS.
Re: (Score:2)
Joking aside, the diagnostic criteria is basically "has some of the known symptoms, ruled out everything else". That's why House didn't like it, he thought there was always a root cause, and it looks like science may have discovered it.
The question now is, how do you undo it? Some of the damage may be permanent, but just getting the auto immune system to stop attacking the rest of the body would make a huge difference to a lot of people, and not just people with Lupus.