BEVERLY EAVES PERpUE
GOVERNOR
FABRY DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
2010
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Fabry Disease is a rare, progressive, destructive and life-threatening inherited disorder that
causes children and adults to suffer a cascade of life-altering symptoms such as pain, decreased ability to perspire,
intolerance to heat and exercise, unexplained fevers and gastrointestinal upset, which lead to excessive absences at
school and work; as it progresses, Fabry Disease may cause hearing loss, lung disease, heart disease, kidney
disease, cerebrovascular disease, and other debilitating symptoms, and may also cause premature death in adults
due to heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure; and
WHEREAS, Fabry Disease is caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A
that causes insufficient breakdown of lipids; lipids build up to harmful levels in the body causing lysosomal and
cellular dysfunction ; and
WHEREAS, an enzyme assay test for males and molecular DNA test for females can confirm Fabry
Disease; and
WHEREAS~ the current estimate of classic Fabry Disease incidence in the United States is I in 50,000
males and, twice as many females, with a very high but lesser percentage of females with disease symptoms; and
WHEREAS, recent newborn screening studies in other countries suggest 'there are likely to be 20 times as
many males with late-onset Fabry Disease in the United States; and
. WHEREAS, due to lack of awareness, Fabry Disease is a severely under-recognized, misdiagnosed and
undiagnosed disorder, and when diagnosed, it is often too late to prevent irreversible organ damage; and
WHEREAS, increased physician and family education are critical to recognizing Fabry Disease; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Drug Administration approved a treatment for Fabry Disease in April 2003; and
WHEREAS, awareness and education are key to fighting this tragic but treatable di sorder;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby
proclaim April2010, as "FABRY DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" in North Carolina and urge citizens to
learn about Fabry Disease and assess family risk.
BEVERLY EA YES PERDUE
IN WlTNESS hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North
Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this ninth day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.