Proclamation 5523 --
Lupus Awareness Month, 1986
By
the President of the
of
A
Proclamation
Systemic
lupus erythematosus (also known as lupus or SLE) is
an inflammatory disease of connective tissue, which can produce changes in the
structure and function of the skin, joints, and internal organs. The exact
cause of lupus is unknown, but evidence suggests that the disease may result
from a disorder in the body's production of antibodies (proteins that fight
invading organisms). In lupus, abnormal antibodies are produced that react
against the patient's own tissue. More than 500,000 Americans have the disease.
Ninety percent of these victims are women in their childbearing years.
Although
research has yet to find a cure for lupus, the outlook has vastly improved.
Patients are living longer, more normal lives as a result of increased
awareness of the disease, improved diagnostic methods, and more effective therapy.
As a result of advances from biomedical research, positive findings have
emerged from such diverse projects as studies on defects in the immune system;
research on genetic and environmental factors influencing the disease and its
complications; studies aimed at developing improved treatment, including new
drugs and techniques; and research in epidemiology and data systems.
In
order for us to take advantage of the knowledge already gained, public
awareness of the symptoms and treatment of lupus -- and of the need for
continuing scientific research -- remains essential. The Federal government and
private voluntary organizations have developed a strong and enduring
partnership committed to research on lupus. Working together, our objective
must be to uncover the cause and find a cure for this devastating disease.
The
Congress, by Public Law 99 - 365, has designated the month of October 1986 as
``Lupus Awareness Month'' and authorized and requested the President to issue a
proclamation in observance of this event.
Now,
Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the
In
Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-six, and of the
Ronald
Reagan
[Filed with the Office of the
Federal Register,