[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PERIPHERAL AUTOIMMUNE NEUROPATHIES AWARENESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to rare 
and serious autoimmune neuropathies such as Guillain-Barre syndrome 
(GBS), Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), 
Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN), and related conditions. These 
diseases cause the body's immune system to attack healthy organs and 
tissues. In the case of conditions like GBS, CIDP, and MMN, the immune 
system attacks the body's peripheral nervous system.
  As we find with so many ailments, awareness, recognition, and an 
early and accurate diagnosis are key to mitigating the serious health 
consequences of peripheral autoimmune neuropathies. The earlier 
treatment begins, the better the prognosis for the affected individual. 
These conditions can be progressive, and any delays in medical 
intervention can result in the patient being completely immobilized and 
using a ventilator to breathe, with the potential for residual damage 
and disability. Essentially, the more damage that is done to the 
nervous system, the longer it takes to heal.
  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), symptoms are 
related to the type of affected nerve and may be seen over a period of 
days, weeks, or years. Muscle weakness is the most common symptom of 
motor nerve damage. Other symptoms may include painful cramps and 
uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin, muscle loss, bone 
degeneration, and changes in the skin, hair, and nails. NIH plays a 
crucial role in the effort to combat these conditions, as treatment 
options are limited and diagnosis can be difficult. While there are 
many known triggers for the conditions, the underlying causes have yet 
to be defined. Investment in medical research and scientific innovation 
is needed to identify the root cause of these conditions and to improve 
the lives of affected individuals.
  This October, the GBS/CIDP Foundation International is coordinating 
the 13th International Symposium on GBS, CIDP, MMN, and related 
conditions. This event will bring leading scientific minds, patients, 
and other stakeholders together with the goal of advancing our 
understanding of these conditions and improving care for affected 
individuals. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
community's ongoing effort to raise awareness and advance medical 
research. We extend our sincerest gratitude and strong support as these 
dedicated individuals come together to collectively reach toward 
knowledge, cures, and the promise of healthier lives for all.

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