The Lupus Foundation of
America will join approximately 100 international lupus organizations to
conduct the fourth annual observance of World Lupus Day on May 10, 2007.
More than 1.5 million Americans and at least five million people worldwide,
mostly women, struggle daily with the debilitating health consequences of
lupus, a life-threatening disease which causes the immune system to attack
the body's own cells and organs. People with lupus - who face possible
strokes, heart attacks, disabling pain, disfiguring skin rashes, and other
serious health problems - are calling for more research, safer and more
effective treatments, and improved healthcare.
Lupus is an Urgent International Health Problem
Lupus disproportionately strikes young women in their prime of life
between the ages of 15 and 44. The disease often goes unrecognized because
its primary symptoms - joint pain, fatigue, skin rashes, and fevers - mimic
many common illnesses. It spares no organ, as every part of the body can be
affected, including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. There is no
cure for lupus and it can be fatal. There have been no new drugs approved
to treat lupus in more than 40 years.
Why Observe World Lupus Day?
Lupus is under-recognized as a global health problem. Early detection,
improved diagnostic tools, and more effective treatments can help slow and
even halt the progression of lupus. Improved awareness of lupus symptoms
will save lives.
World Lupus Day provides a forum for the exchange of scientific
information, increased public understanding of the physical, emotional, and
economic impact of lupus, and the promise that the disease is finally being
recognized and addressed on a global scale.
Hope on the Horizon for Lupus
International efforts to unravel the scientific mysteries of lupus are
gaining momentum. Multiple international lupus clinics are collaborating on
research studies and clinical trials of potential new treatments offering
people with lupus hope for an improved quality of life. Lupus organizations
are generating increased public awareness and educating patients and health
professionals about the disease. Governments are recognizing the need to
provide more funds for medical research and patient services.
For additional information about the global effort to combat lupus,
visit the World Lupus Day website at worldlupusday.
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
lupus