Landmark Study Offers New Hope to Lupus Patients
27 October 2003 - 7:29PM
PR Newswire (US)
Landmark Study Offers New Hope to Lupus Patients Mysterious Disease
Affects 1.5 Million Americans With No New Treatment Options In 30
Years NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Lupus is an often
debilitating autoimmune disease, which causes the immune system to
attack the body's own healthy cells. Lupus causes painful
inflammation in different parts of the body and affects up to 1.5
million Americans. Lupus nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys
can also cause weight gain, headaches, rashes, high blood pressure
and swelling around the legs, ankles, hands and eyes. Though the
cause is unknown, and there is no cure, promising research is
offering hope for people suffering from the form of lupus that
attacks the kidneys. Results from a national multi-center clinical
trial sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were
presented at the American College Of Rheumatology's annual meeting.
The research found that the use of an immunosuppressant used in
transplant patients when used in patients with lupus nephritis
provides symptom relief and for some patients, puts the disease
into remission. For more information, contact the Lupus Foundation
Of America at LUPUS.ORG. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Video version and
more available at
http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/11388/11388_consumer.html
SOUNDBITES: * Sandra Gomez, Lupus Nephritis Patient * Joan Merrill,
MD, Study Investigator * Sandra Raymond, Lupus Foundation of
America VIDEO PROVIDED BY: Lupus Foundation of America
http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/11388/11388_press.htmlDATASOURCE:
Lupus Foundation of America CONTACT: MultiVu Media Relations,
1-800-653-5313, ext. 3, for Lupus Foundation of America
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