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PRINTER'S NO. 3125
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 461
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, RIVERA, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, KAZEEM,
HOHENSTEIN, GALLAGHER AND BELLMON, MARCH 30, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 31, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of June 2026 as "Scleroderma Awareness
Month" and June 29, 2026, as "World Scleroderma Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Scleroderma is a rare group of autoimmune diseases
that makes the skin harden and tighten, which may cause issues
in the blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, heart and lungs;
and
WHEREAS, There are two main groups of scleroderma, localized
scleroderma, which typically only affects one area of the skin,
and systemic scleroderma, which affects the skin as well as the
internal organs; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 300,000 individuals in the United
States have scleroderma, with one-third of those individuals
having systemic scleroderma; and
WHEREAS, Up to 80% of individuals diagnosed with scleroderma
are women; and
WHEREAS, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed
with systemic scleroderma than non-African Americans, and
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African Americans are also more likely to have earlier onset of
the disease and more severe symptoms; and
WHEREAS, Scleroderma commonly occurs between 25 and 55 years
of age; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms commonly affect the face, feet, fingers,
and hands first, and early symptoms include hardening and
tightening of the skin, swelling and itchiness; and
WHEREAS, Diagnosis may include physical exams, laboratory
tests for antibodies, skin biopsies, computerized tomography,
echocardiograms and pulmonary function tests; and
WHEREAS, There is not a cure for scleroderma, but treatment
may include medications to dilate blood vessels, suppress the
immune system, reduce stomach acid, prevent infections of ulcers
caused by Raynaud's phenomenon and alleviate pain, in addition
to physical and occupational therapies and stem cell and organ
transplants; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms associated with scleroderma may decrease on
their own in three to six years, while systemic scleroderma,
which damages the internal organs, continues to worsen; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson University, the University of
Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh and other entities in
Pennsylvania continue to research scleroderma, enabling
individuals to receive treatment to mitigate their symptoms; and
WHEREAS, Awareness of rare diseases such as scleroderma
assists in individuals' knowledge about the symptoms, research
to treat these rare diseases and providing supports to
individuals with rare diseases; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of June 2026 as "Scleroderma Awareness Month" and June 29,
2026, as "World Scleroderma Day" in Pennsylvania.
20260HR0461PN3125 - 2 -
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