It's a disease we do not talk about. Yet, in 2015, she was put on the front of the stage by an unexpected bias: Selena Gomez.

The American singer, diagnosed as a carrier of lupus in 2013, has indeed been absent from the media scene for a year because of this chronic autoimmune disease. At the time, the star had even revealed to have undergone chemotherapy.

Seriously injured, the ex Justin Bieber also underwent a kidney transplant in the summer of 2017. And it is through three photos published on his Instagram account Thursday, September 14 that she wanted to share the news with her fans . In a first shot, we can see the star hand in hand with his donor - and best friend - Francia Raisa. In the other two, she shows a large scar and a visibly very thin body.

"I discovered that I needed a kidney transplant because of my lupus and I recovered, which was what I had to do for my overall health," reads the caption.

This disease would affect about 5 million people worldwide according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

In France, the number of people with the disease is estimated at around 40,000.

Antibodies that attack healthy cells in the body

Lupus is a result of a dysfunction of the body's immune system , which results in the production of antibodies that attack healthy cells.

It mainly affects women of childbearing age, from 15 to 40 years old.

For now, there is no way to prevent this disease.

Various symptoms: rashes, joint pain, fever ...

Intense joint pain, fatigue, fever and erythema are the main symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of the disease, which evolves by relapses, with periods of remission more or less long, ranging from a few weeks to several years.

In the most serious cases, the disease can also affect the kidneys and cause disorders such as venous or arterial thrombosis.

However, its causes remain uncertain, although scientists have noted factors favoring its appearance: a favorable genetic background, a hormonal upheaval such as pregnancy, taking certain drugs such as betablockers or anticonvulsants, but also UV exposure. , which favors rashes related to the disease.

As far as treatments are concerned, it is impossible to cure lupus permanently. Specific anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids help to prevent relapses to a certain extent, to circumscribe them and to avoid medical complications.