[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LET'S FIND A CURE FOR SCLERODERMA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2003

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to help the 
more than 300,000 Americans who suffer from scleroderma. Scleroderma is 
a chronic, often progressive autoimmune disease in which the body's 
immune system attacks its own tissues.
  The disease manifests itself in two forms: localized scleroderma, 
effecting the skin and underlying tissue; and systemic scleroderma, 
also known as systemic sclerosis, a potentially life-threatening 
disease that attacks internal organs, including the lungs, heart, 
kidneys, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.
  Scleroderma can vary a great deal in terms of severity. While for a 
few individuals it is merely a nuisance, for many it is a life-
threatening illness. For most, it is a disease that affects how they 
live their daily lives.
  The wide range of symptoms and localized and systemic variations of 
the disease make it especially hard to diagnose. The average diagnosis 
is made five years after the onset of symptoms. Once diagnosed, 
however, people with Scleroderma can only look forward to symptomatic 
relief, as there is no known cure.
  Symptoms may include swelling, hardening and thickening of the skin, 
blood vessel spasms with severe discomfort in the fingers and toes, 
weight loss, joint pain, swallowing difficulties, nonhealing 
ulcerations on the fingertips and extreme fatigue. In its more advanced 
forms, Scleroderma can prevent patients from performing even the 
simplest tasks.
  Among the goals of my legislation is to help adequately fund research 
projects regarding Scleroderma; hold a Scleroderma symposium that would 
bring together distinguished scientists and clinicians from across the 
United States to determine the most important priorities in Scleroderma 
research; and to establish a national epidemiological study to better 
track the incidence of this disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in bringing awareness 
and to help find a cure for this devastating disease.

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