THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, ORIE, COSTA, KASUNIC, HUGHES, FONTANA, BOSCOLA, PILEGGI, BROWNE, ERICKSON, ALLOWAY, BAKER, BLAKE, BREWSTER, BRUBAKER, DINNIMAN, EARLL, FERLO, GREENLEAF, MENSCH, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, STACK, D. WHITE AND FARNESE, APRIL 5, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 5, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of April 2011 as "Lupus Alert Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease

which causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissue

and organs, including the kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood or

skin; and

WHEREAS, Lupus affects one out of every 185 Americans and

primarily strikes women between the ages of 15 and 45, but men

as well as children are also affected; and

WHEREAS, Lupus is more prevalent in African Americans,

Latinos, Native Americans and Asians; and

WHEREAS, Lupus is America's least known major disease but

strikes more people than sickle-cell anemia, multiple sclerosis,

leukemia, cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis combined; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Americans die each year from lupus-

related complications; and

WHEREAS, Lupus is often referred to as "the disease that

fools," due to the patient's unawareness of its presence for

extended periods of time; and

WHEREAS, Clinicians may confuse lupus with other disorders,

and persons with lupus may give the appearance of being healthy;

and

WHEREAS, The majority of Pennsylvanians do not understand

lupus, how widespread it is or its ramifications for the health

care industry; and

WHEREAS, With early diagnosis and current methods of therapy,

80% to 90% of persons with lupus can look forward to a normal

life span if they follow the instructions of their physician,

take medications as prescribed and know when to seek medical

assistance; and

WHEREAS, The Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, a nonprofit

volunteer health organization with a history of service since

1975, provides supportive services to the victims of lupus,

funds medical research into the disease's causes and possible

treatments and educates the public concerning the realities of

lupus; and

WHEREAS, The Lupus Foundation of America Inc., is calling for

all states to dedicate April 2011 toward fostering lupus

awareness; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2011

as "Lupus Alert Month" in Pennsylvania.