A MAJOR health study is being launched in East Lancashire into a rare and debilitating disease.

Lupus is an inflammatory condition that mainly affects younger women.

It attacks the immune system and can affect the joints, the brain, skin, kidneys and other internal organs.

Women living with Lupus have up to five or six times increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Two researchers at the Royal Blackburn Hospital will be involved in the study, which is based at the University of Manchester.

They are seeking women from throughout East Lancashire to take part.

More than 100 people in East Lancashire are believed to be living with Lupus, also known as SLE or systemic Lupus erythematosus.

Dr Lee-Suan Teh, consultant rheumatologist said: "It is a valuable and well-thought out study.

"It will hopefully not only help us towards identifying the mechanism and risks which lead to SLE patients developing heart disease but may also point us towards more effective preventative and/or treatment options.

"We have just had ethical approval in this trust to start this study and will be helping to recruit suitable patients soon."

Lupus patient Caroline Morrison-Pinches, 51, of St. George's Avenue, Blackburn, who discovered she had the disease in 1995, welcomed the new study. She said: "It's a good idea. More research needs to be done. However, women should be aware of the condition in the first place. I never knew about Lupus before I found out. Many have problems by the time Lupus is diagnosed, but they don't know they have it.

"It took six weeks for me to be diagnosed after I suffered change in moods, tiredness and hair loss. When I went to the clinic I was in a bad state: depressed, wearing big dark glasses and a wig.

"I was desperate to see someone."

Dr Sahena Haque, a rheumatology specialist registrar who will be conducting the study, added: "Atherosclerosis in Lupus develops much earlier, suggesting that the blood vessels in Lupus patients may age at a faster rate.

"This, coupled with an inability to repair the blood vessels may result in the premature atherosclerosis that we see.

"The aim of this study is to examine the balance between biological ageing and the ability to repair the blood vessels in Lupus patients."

The study will involve people having a scan of the carotid artery, the main artery in their neck. Blood and urine samples will also be taken.

To register interest in the research, for which they need both healthy volunteers and Lupus patients, contact Joanne at the Manchester Royal Infirmary on 0161 2766841.

Support for Lupus patients can be found with the PALS Team in Blackburn.Call them on 0845 605908.