[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 109 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6220-S6221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 592--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2010,
AS ``POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK'', AND SUPPORTING THE
GOALS AND IDEALS OF POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK TO RAISE
AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND THE IMPACT
THE DISEASE HAS ON PATIENTS NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS UNTIL IT CAN
BE CURED
Mr. KOHL (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 592
Whereas polycystic kidney disease (known as ``PKD'') is one
of the most prevalent life-threatening genetic diseases in
the world, affecting an estimated 600,000 people in the
United States, including newborn babies, children, and
adults, regardless of sex, age, race, geography, income, or
ethnicity;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease comes in 2 forms,
autosomal dominant, which affects 1 in 500 people worldwide,
and autosomal recessive, a rare form that affects 1 in 20,000
live births and frequently leads to early death;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease causes multiple cysts to
form on both kidneys, leading to an increase in kidney size
and weight;
Whereas the cysts caused by polycystic kidney disease can
be as small as the head of a pin or as large as a grapefruit;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a systemic disease
that damages the kidneys and the cardiovascular, endocrine,
hepatic, and gastrointestinal systems;
Whereas patients with polycystic kidney disease often
experience no symptoms during the early stages of the
disease, and many patients do not realize they have PKD until
the disease affects other organs;
Whereas the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease can
include high blood pressure, chronic pain in the back, sides
or abdomen, blood in the urine, urinary tract infections,
heart disease, and kidney stones;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is the leading genetic
cause of kidney failure in the United States;
Whereas more than half of patients suffering from
polycystic kidney disease will
[[Page S6221]]
reach kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney
transplant to survive, thus placing an extra strain on
dialysis and kidney transplantation resources;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease has no treatment or cure;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease instills in patients the
fear of an unknown future with a life-threatening genetic
disease, and of possible genetic discrimination;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is an example of how
collaboration, technological innovation, scientific momentum,
and public-private partnerships can--
(1) generate therapeutic interventions that directly
benefit the people suffering from polycystic kidney disease;
(2) save billions of Federal dollars paid by Medicare,
Medicaid, and other programs for dialysis, kidney
transplants, immunosuppressant drugs, and related therapies;
and
(3) open several thousand spots on the kidney transplant
waiting list;
Whereas improvements in diagnostic technology and the
expansion of scientific knowledge about polycystic kidney
disease have led to--
(1) the discovery of the 3 primary genes that cause
polycystic kidney disease and the 3 primary protein products
of the genes; and
(2) the understanding of cell structures and signaling
pathways that cause cyst growth, which has produced multiple
polycystic kidney disease clinical drug trials; and
Whereas thousands of volunteers throughout the United
States are dedicated to expanding essential research,
fostering public awareness and understanding, educating
patients and their families about polycystic kidney disease
to improve treatment and care, providing appropriate moral
support, and encouraging people to become organ donors: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week of September 13-19, 2010, as
``Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week'';
(2) supports the goals and ideals of a national week to
raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney
disease;
(3) recognizes the need for additional research into a
treatment and a cure for polycystic kidney disease; and
(4) encourages the people of the United States and
interested groups to--
(A) support Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week
through appropriate ceremonies and activities;
(B) promote public awareness of polycystic kidney disease;
and
(C) foster understanding of the impact of the disease on
patients and their families.
Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today along with Senator Hatch to
introduce a resolution to increase awareness of Polycystic Kidney
Disease, PKD, a common and life threatening genetic illness.
Over 600,000 people have been diagnosed with PKD nationwide. There is
no treatment or cure for this devastating disease. Families and friends
struggle to fight PKD and provide unwavering support to their suffering
loved ones.
But there is hope. The PKD Foundation has led the fight for increased
research and patient education. Recent studies have led to the
discovery of the genes that cause PKD as well as promising clinical
drug trials for treatment. More needs to be done, however, and the
government wants to help.
In order to increase public awareness of this fatal disease, I
propose that September 13th through the 19th be designated as National
Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week. This week coincides with the
annual walk for PKD which takes place every September. In Wisconsin,
where over 10,000 patients are living with the disease, residents
gather across the state to take part in this very special walk.
Increasing awareness will help all those affected by Polycystic
Kidney Disease, and I hope my colleagues will support this important
resolution.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague from
Wisconsin, Senator Herb Kohl, in introducing a resolution to designate
September 13-19, 2010, as National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness
Week.
Polycystic kidney disease, also known as PKD, is a life-threatening,
genetic disease which affects more than 12.5 million adults and
children worldwide. PKD is of significant interest to me because many
Utahns suffer from this illness. The PKD Foundation estimates that
roughly 5,000 Utahns have PKD; and ESRD instances in Utah are almost
three times the national average.
A kidney affected by PKD will develop cysts ranging in size from that
of a pinhead to the size of a grapefruit. These fluid-filled cysts
increase the size and weight of the kidney from what is normally the
size of a human fist to as large as a football. This condition causes
great pain and is extremely dangerous to kidney function. As PKD
progresses a person may acquire other diseases and disorders such as
urinary tract infections, hypertension, and kidney stones. In its most
progressive stage, PKD results in kidney failure, or end-stage renal
disease, ESRD, for which the only help available is dialysis or a
kidney transplant.
Autosomal dominant PKD is the most common form of the disease and
affects one in every 500 people. This type of PKD is commonly diagnosed
in adulthood. Children born to an affected parent have a 50 percent
chance of inheriting the disease themselves. In less prevalent cases, a
child may be diagnosed with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney
disease, ARPKD. ARPKD kills approximately 30 percent of infants
diagnosed within the first month of life--and of the 70 percent who
survive infancy, one-third will require a kidney transplant by the age
of 10.
There is no cure for PKD. Although minimal treatments can alleviate
pain, and a healthy lifestyle can delay kidney failure, currently the
only way to truly stop the symptoms is by transplantation. Yet, there
is hope in science, awareness, and education.
To cure PKD could mean billions of dollars in savings to Medicare and
Medicaid. Greater yet, it would offer relief to the suffering endured
by the millions of people living with this dreadful disease.
With improved awareness and education comes a greater ability to find
a cure. That is why Senator Kohl and I have introduced this resolution
every year since 2007 to designate a National Polycystic Kidney Disease
Awareness Week. I encourage my colleagues to lend their support to this
important measure.
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