A national research project has been launched to unearth the causes of lupus, a potentially fatal disease which affects the immune system.

The Hammersmith Hospital in London is appealing for lupus sufferers and their families to come forward so that doctors can analyse blood samples.

The aim is to find the genetic faults which lead to the disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a debilitating conditions which affects more than 10,000 people in the UK, particularly children and young people.

It can attack any of the body's organs including the skin, joints, kidneys and brain.

Dr Tim Vyse, senior lecturer and honorary consultant at the Hammersmith, and his team have already recruited more than 400 patients for their study.

However, they say more people are urgently needed to continue their work.

Women more at risk

Dr Tim Vyse will lead the research

Lupus is ten times more common in women and four times more likely to occur in Afro-Caribbean and Asian people than whites.

A sister with lupus is 15 times more susceptible than someone with no family history of the disease.

The research team is converting blood samples, sent from the patient's local hospital or GP, into DNA.

They will then try to map the genes of patients and their families.

As well as identifying the lupus genes, the study will also attempt to recognise gene patterns that could cause more serious forms of the disease in order to monitor who could have acute problems in the future.

Professor Mark Walport, head of the Division of Medicine at the Hammersmith, said: "It is vital that we know more about why this debilitating disease occurs.

"Only once this information is available will we be able to work towards finding effective treatments for the thousands of people living with lupus in the UK."

Potential volunteers should contact the team at Hammersmith Hospital on 0208 383 2337.