LUPUS GETS ITS OWN DAY

  The first-ever World Lupus Day was observed in May 2004
with a press conference and media events in New York City.
The organizers hope to increase awareness of lupus,
improve its diagnosis and treatment, and encourage
research aimed at finding a cure for the disease.

 Still somewhat a mystery

  Lupus is an autoimmune disease -- a disease in which the
body's immune defenses mistakenly attack healthy tissue in
the body.  Inflammation results.

  Four types of lupus have been identified .  In systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE), the attack can be wide-ranging
and cause damage to any system of the body, including the
joints, blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and brain. Discoid,
or cutaneous, lupus occurs only on the skin. A rash, often
butterfly-shaped, appears.  Drug-induced lupus may develop
after taking certain medicines.  It usually goes away, how-
ever, when the drug is discontinued.  Finally, neonatal
lupus, a rare condition, is present at birth.  Most
affected infants suffer temporary problems, but some
suffer permanent heart damage.

  Symptoms of the uncontrolled inflammation vary from
person to person.  But in general, among the symptoms
reported are achy, swollen joints; persistent fever; chest
pain when breathing deeply; mouth or nose ulcers; and
rash.

  Doctors do not yet know why lupus develops, but they
suspect a combination of genetic and environmental
factors.  Most new cases are diagnosed in women aged 15 to
44 years.

 Why World Lupus Day?

  Some form of lupus affects at least 5 million people
worldwide.  It cannot be cured.  No new safe, effective
treatment for lupus has appeared in more than 30 years,
although several promising therapies are on the horizon.

  One of the goals of World Lupus Day was to address the
problem of under-diagnosis.  Many people around the world
are not aware of the symptoms and health effects of lupus.
The disease is often overlooked because its symptoms can
resemble those of other conditions.  As a result, many
individuals with lupus go for years without receiving
helpful treatment.

         From the Lupus Foundation of American