SR 22 (LSB 2542XS (2) 86)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 22

BY  SCHNEIDER

A Resolution recognizing March as Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month in Iowa.

   WHEREAS, fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a disease that causes abnormal cell growth of the arterial wall and can lead to areas of narrowing, beading, aneurysms, and dissections of the arterial wall; and
   WHEREAS, until recently there has been very little progress in understanding this disease and there are no set protocols to treat the disease; and
   WHEREAS, FMD has always been considered and is still classified as a rare disease, with many researchers now believing that FMD is an underdiagnosed disease; and
   WHEREAS, some data suggests 4 to 5 percent of the population is affected by the disease; and
   WHEREAS, 90 percent of the patients affected by FMD are women, but men and children can also develop the disease; and
   WHEREAS, there are different classifications of FMD, with the two most common types being medial fibroplasia and intimal fibroplasia; and
   WHEREAS, unlike adults, children tend to be diagnosed with intimal fibroplasia, which can be more aggressive; and
   WHEREAS, individuals and families affected by FMD often experience problems such as a sense of isolation, difficulty in obtaining an accurate and timely diagnosis, and less than optimal treatment options; and
   WHEREAS, unlike many rare diseases that are relatively well known, FMD is not well known by the public or the medical community and patients and their families bear a large share of the burden for educating the public and their own physicians and raising funds for awareness and research; and
   WHEREAS, the Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America (FMDSA) was founded in March 2003, and has been active and successful with many programs including public and physician awareness, patient support, and engaging and working with researchers from around the world; and
   WHEREAS, FMDSA is funding the United States Registry for Fibromuscular Dysplasia; and
   WHEREAS, recent data has shown the inaccuracy of the belief that 75 percent of FMD cases affect renal arteries and more recent data has shown it is very common to have a five-year delay from the onset of symptoms to a diagnosis; and
   WHEREAS, greater awareness and research of the disease is still needed as FMD patients present with the same symptoms as much of the general population such as hypertension, headaches, dizziness, stroke, dissection of an artery, aneurysm, swooshing noise in the ear, and renal infarction, and children can present with basic symptoms such as high blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and abdominal pain; and
   WHEREAS, the misdiagnosis of FMD can lead to severe consequences and disability; and
   WHEREAS, FMDSA is organizing a global observance of fibromuscular dysplasia during the month of March each year when patients, medical professionals, and researchers shall join together to focus attention on fibromuscular dysplasia as a public health issue; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate recognizes the month of March as Fibromuscular Dysplasia Awareness Month and invites the citizens of Iowa to educate themselves and others with regard to the diagnosis, treatment, and support of persons affected by fibromuscular dysplasia.