HR0176 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0176 LRB096 11928 GRL 23217 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels; also called angiitis, vasculitis causes changes in the walls of blood vessels, including thickening, weakening, narrowing, and scarring; the inflammation from these changes can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) and can be so severe that the tissues and organs supplied by the affected vessels don't receive enough blood; this shortage of blood can result in organ and tissue damage, and even death; and

WHEREAS, Many types of vasculitis exist and, although rare, vasculitis can affect anyone; some age groups are affected more than others, depending on the type of vasculitis; while some forms of vasculitis improve on their own, others require treatment, which often includes long-term medication; each year, 100,000 Americans are hospitalized for vasculitis care; and

WHEREAS, Diseases resulting from vasculitis include Behcet's disease, Buerger's disease, Central Nervous System, Churg Strauss syndrome, Cryoglobulinemia, Giant Cell Arteritis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, Hypersensitivity vasculitis, Kawasaki disease, Microscopic Polyangiitis, Polyarteritis nodosa, Polymyalgia rheumatica, Rheumatoid vasculitis, Takayasu's arteritis, and Wegener's Granulomatosis; and

WHEREAS, The Vasculitis Foundation, with the help of grassroots support, works to support positive change in the lives of people who live with vasculitis; the foundation's members work in Washington D.C. to educate Congress about Vasculitis and the need to support research funding so that a modern science can better understand the disease and identify advanced treatments and, one day, find a cure; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the week of May 3-9, 2009 as Vasculitis Awareness Week in the State of Illinois in order to help educate the public about vasculitis diseases and the need for research funding; with this resolution, Illinois will be the first State to officially recognize this disease with an Awareness Week; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to The Vasculitis Foundation as a symbol of our support.