Striking mostly young women of childbearing age, lupus causes the immune system to attack the body's own cells. Lupus can cause severe joint and muscle pain, extreme exhaustion, fevers, and skin rashes, and can lead to organ failure and death. The exact cause of lupus remains unclear, and there is no cure.
Diagnosis is difficult, as symptoms mimic less serious illnesses.
Congresswoman Meek, who has championed the lupus cause in Congress for nearly a decade and has been a strong advocate for the lupus community, sponsored this legislation in the U.S House of Representatives. The Lupus National Town Hall Meeting continues their efforts to increase visibility and support for this urgent national health issue. The panel will include members of Congress, government officials, lupus doctors and medical researchers. The program will present the most recent information on research, diagnosis, treatments, and management of lupus. Among the panel members will be International Ford Agency actress and model Tomiko Fraser, whose sister is seriously ill with lupus.