Bill Text: NJ AJR16 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Designates September 21 of each year as "Evans Syndrome Awareness Day."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-12-07 - Substituted by SJR73 (1R) [AJR16 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AJR16-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION
No. 16
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Designates September 21 of each year as "Evans Syndrome Awareness Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on June 1, 2017, with amendments.
A Joint Resolution designating September 21 of each year as "Evans Syndrome Awareness Day."
Whereas, Evans Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the body's red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets, or each simultaneously; and
Whereas, Evans Syndrome was first described in 1951 by Robert S. Evans and colleagues in the article "Primary Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Acquired Hemolytic Anemia: Evidence for a Common Etiology"; and
Whereas, Evans Syndrome resembles a combination of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a condition in which red blood cells that normally carry oxygen and carbon dioxide are destroyed by an autoimmune process, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition in which platelets, a component of blood that contribute to the formation of blood clots in the body to prevent bleeding, are destroyed by an autoimmune process; and
Whereas, It is estimated that one in every 80,000 United States residents has immune hemolytic anemia, but less than one percent of these individuals has it in conjunction with ITP; and
Whereas, Symptoms of Evans Syndrome may be similar in nature to leukemia and lymphoma, but for individuals with a low red blood cell count, symptoms may also include jaundice, dark brown urine, pale skin, weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath; and
Whereas, Additional symptoms exhibited by individuals with a low platelet count may include increased bruising, tiny red dots under the skin, and increased bleeding symptoms; and
Whereas, The symptoms of Evans Syndrome, such as bloody noses and bruising, are often misdiagnosed as minor injuries; and
Whereas, Diagnosing Evans Syndrome can be accomplished by complete blood counts, a Coombs test, gene mutation studies, lupus antibodies, bone marrow aspirations, and additional laboratory studies; and
Whereas, Evans Syndrome has a chronic, relapsing, and sometimes fatal course, with some affected people experiencing periods of long remission and a mortality rate of seven percent; and
Whereas, The exact cause of Evans Syndrome is unknown, and the best treatment options for Evans Syndrome depend on many factors, including the severity of the condition, the signs and symptoms present, and each person's response to certain therapies, and may utilize blood transfusions and stem cell transplants; and
Whereas, September is ITP Awareness Month, which raises public awareness for part of the pathology of Evans Syndrome; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper, as a matter of public health, to designate September 21 as "Evans Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. September 21 of each year is designated as "Evans Syndrome Awareness Day" to promote awareness and improve diagnosis, treatment, and scientific research of this condition.
2. The Governor 1[shall] is respectfully requested to1 annually issue a proclamation recognizing "Evans Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and the people of this State to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
