and 55; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms commonly affect the face, feet, fingers,
and hands first, and early symptoms include hardening and
tightening of the skin, swelling and itchiness; and
WHEREAS, Diagnosis may include physical exams, laboratory
tests for antibodies, skin biopsies, computerized tomography,
echocardiograms and pulmonary function tests; and
WHEREAS, There is not a cure for scleroderma, but treatment
may include medications to dilate blood vessels, suppress the
immune system, reduce stomach acid, prevent infections of ulcers
caused by Raynaud's phenomenon and alleviate pain, in addition
to physical and occupational therapies and stem cell and organ
transplants; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms associated with scleroderma may decrease on
their own in two to five years, while systemic scleroderma,
which damages the internal organs, continues to worsen; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson University, the University of
Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh and other entities in
Pennsylvania continue to research scleroderma, enabling
individuals to receive treatment to mitigate their symptoms; and
WHEREAS, Awareness of rare diseases such as scleroderma
assists in individuals' knowledge about the symptoms, research
to treat these rare diseases and providing supports to
individuals with rare diseases; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of June 2024 as "Scleroderma Awareness Month" and June 29,
2024, as "World Scleroderma Day" in Pennsylvania.
20240HR0471PN3269 - 2 -
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