Posted on: Wednesday, September 5, 2001

Festival benefits Hawai'i Lupus Foundation

• A taste of L' Italia
• Savory dishes will tempt festival's participants

Advertiser Staff

This weekend's Honolulu Wine Festival is a benefit for the Hawaii Lupus Foundation, and one reason the event is important is that lupus is a relatively little known and understood ailment.

Lupus (also called systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) is a disorder of the immune system that normally protects the body against invading infections and cancers. It typically affects women beginning in their childbearing years.

In lupus, the immune system becomes overactive, producing increased amounts of abnormal antibodies that attack the patient's own tissue cells.

Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and nervous system. Symptoms differ from person to person, and the disease can range from mild to life-threatening.

There is no cure for lupus. However, with the aid of a combination of medications, rest, exercise, proper nutrition and stress management, most lupus sufferers can achieve remission or a lessening of symptoms.

Investigators researching lupus seek to increase scientific understanding of the disorder and to find ways to treat, prevent and cure it. The Hawaii Lupus Foundation supports research into a better understanding and awareness of this disease.