HR 475 — A Resolution recognizing the month of September 2026 as "ITP Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   3258

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 475
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY RIVERA, FREEMAN, GUZMAN, VENKAT, SANCHEZ, HILL-
        EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN, NEILSON AND PASHINSKI,
        APRIL 22, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 22, 2026


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Recognizing the month of September 2026 as "ITP Awareness Month"
 2      in Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, Immune thrombocytopenia, otherwise known as ITP, is
 4   a rare autoimmune disease that causes an individual to have a
 5   low platelet count, which may cause bruising, bleeding and
 6   fatigue; and
 7      WHEREAS, In severe cases, individuals can experience brain
 8   bleeds or bleeding from their mouth, nose and gums; and
 9      WHEREAS, The Platelet Disorder Support Association observes
10   September as "ITP Awareness Month" annually to raise awareness,
11   enhance research and develop better outcomes for individuals
12   living with ITP; and
13      WHEREAS, Diagnosing ITP is difficult because there is not a
14   specific test to identify it or a specific cause for how it
15   develops; and
16      WHEREAS, Diagnosis may include a physical examination, blood
17   smears, bone marrow examination or other blood tests; and
 1      WHEREAS, The three phases of ITP are newly diagnosed ITP,
 2   persistent ITP and chronic ITP, each with numerous symptoms and
 3   side effects and classified by the length of time a person has
 4   had the condition; and
 5      WHEREAS, Unlike other diseases there is no estimated timeline
 6   for how long ITP will last, as the condition can be chronic and
 7   last for more than a year or be persistent and last about six to
 8   12 months; and
 9      WHEREAS, Standard treatment consists of undergoing blood and
10   platelet transfusions and plasma exchanges and managing ITP
11   caused by some viral, bacterial and other infections; and
12      WHEREAS, A splenectomy may also be necessary to remove the
13   spleen in order to prevent platelets from being circulated and
14   potentially destroyed by antibodies; and
15      WHEREAS, Recovery from ITP varies depending on the
16   individual, and there is no cure or treatment that is guaranteed
17   to be effective; and
18      WHEREAS, Patients often have to undergo different treatments
19   and medications to determine which is most effective for their
20   condition; and
21      WHEREAS, While children are more likely to recover from ITP
22   without treatment, adults tend to recover at slower rates and
23   may require treatment for the rest of their lives; and
24      WHEREAS, Patients with ITP may need to avoid participating in
25   contact sports and other activities due to potential injuries
26   and avoid taking certain medications because of the high risk of
27   internal bleeding; and
28      WHEREAS, More than 50,000 people in the United States are
29   surviving and managing their ITP; and
30      WHEREAS, While ITP can affect anyone of any age, studies have

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 1   shown that women 30 to 60 years of age are more likely to have
 2   ITP; and
 3      WHEREAS, It is crucial to spread awareness for rare
 4   autoimmune diseases such as ITP to encourage research studies to
 5   be conducted, discovery of more effective treatments and
 6   potential cures and to support those who are impacted by the
 7   conditions; therefore be it
 8      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
 9   month of September 2026 as "ITP Awareness Month" in
10   Pennsylvania.




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