III
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 495
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 18, 2012
Mr. Kohl (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating the period beginning on June
17, 2012, and ending on June 23, 2012, as Polycystic Kidney Disease
Awareness Week
, and raising awareness and understanding of polycystic
kidney disease and the impact such disease has on patients.
Whereas polycystic kidney disease, known as
PKD
, is a life-threatening genetic disease, affecting newborns,
children, and adults regardless of sex, age, race, geography, income, or
ethnicity;
Whereas there are 2 forms of polycystic kidney disease, autosomal dominant (ADPKD), and autosomal recessive (ARPKD), a rare form frequently leading to early death;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease causes multiple cysts to form on both kidneys (ranging in size from a pinhead to a grapefruit), leading to an increase in kidney size and weight;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is a systemic disease that causes damage to the kidneys and the cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, and gastrointestinal systems;
Whereas patients with polycystic kidney disease often experience no symptoms early in the disease, and many patients do not realize they have polycystic kidney disease until other organs are affected;
Whereas symptoms of polycystic kidney disease may include high blood pressure, chronic pain in the back, sides or abdomen, blood in the urine, urinary tract infection, heart disease, and kidney stones;
Whereas polycystic kidney disease is the number 1 genetic cause of kidney failure in the United States;
Whereas more than half of polycystic kidney disease patients will reach kidney failure and require dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive, thus placing an extra strain on dialysis and kidney transplantation resources;
Whereas there is no treatment or cure for polycystic kidney disease; and
Whereas there are thousands of volunteers nationwide 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
That the Senate—
designates the
period beginning on June 17, 2012, and ending on June 23, 2012, as
Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week
;
supports the goals and ideals of Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week, to raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease;
recognizes the need for additional research to find treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease; and
encourages the people of the United States and interested groups to support Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week through appropriate ceremonies and activities, to promote public awareness of polycystic kidney disease, and to foster understanding of the impact of such disease on patients and their families.