Fw: Other Registrants Qualifications

[Guest guest]

Interesting info on the criteria of illness in the Dow suit....which sheds

light on what we also may expect from saline....

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: " Kathi (by way of ilena rose) " <1pureheart@...>

Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 12:22 AM

Subject: Other Registrants Qualifications

> This is the info I received...........

>

> Other Registrants of the Revised are only eligible for the below

> programs.

> They were set up by the attorneys for the manufacturers after they knew

> what

> our sympotms were and were not negotiated with our attorneys. They are

> rigged

> so very few can qualify for any of the below. The proof is that only 800

>

> according to Judge Pointer's Page of 80,000 Other Registrants have been

> able

> to qualify for one! Poor odds.

>

> PREMIUM APPLIES ONLY TO THE DOW CORNING PROPOSED BANKRUPTCY SETTLEMENT:

> same

> as for RSP as for DC on quaifying symtpoms & other rules.

>

> Compensation Level:

>

> All confirmed PM/DM* diagnoses will be compensated at the GCTS/PM/DM--A

> level.

>

> POLYMYOSITIS: Inflammation of many muscles, usually accompanied by

> deformity,

> edema, insomnia, pain, sweating and tension.

> DERMAMYOSITIS: A disease of the connective tissues, characterized by

> prurtic

> or eczematous inflammation of the skin and tenderness and weakness of

> the

> muscles. Muscle tissue is destroyed and loss is often so severe that the

>

> person my become unable to walk or to perform simple tasks. Swelling of

> the

> eyelids and face and loss of weight are common manifestations. The cause

> is

> unknown, but in 15% of the cases, the condition develops with an

> internal

> malignancy. Viral infection and antibacterial medication are also

> associated

> with an increased incidence of dermamyositis.

>

> GENERAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE SYMPTOMS (GCTS)

>

> A claim for GCTS does not have to include a diagnosis for " General

> Connective

> Tissue Symptoms, " but the medical documentation must establish that the

> combination of findings listed below are present. [Exclusion: classical

> rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed in accordance with the revised 1958 ACR

> classification criteria.]

>

> FOR COMPENSATION LEVEL A: $110,000.00/W/PREMIUM $132,000,00

>

> (1) any two findings from Group I; or

> (2) any three non-duplicative findings from Group I or Group II.

>

> FOR COMPENSATION LEVEL B: $75,000.00/W/PREMIUM: $90,000.00

>

> (1) one finding from Group I plus any four non-duplicative findings from

>

> Group II or Group III; or

> (2) two findings from Group II plus one non-duplicative finding from

> Group

> III.

>

> The following duplications exist on the list of findings:

>

> - rashes (#3 and #8)

> - sicca (#2 and #12)

> - serological abnormalities (#4 and #9)

>

> In addition to the medical verification of the required findings, a

> claim for

> GCTS must include the affirmative physician statements outlined in

> General

> Guidelines above.

>

> GROUP I FINDINGS

>

> 1. Polyarthritis, defined as synovial swelling and tenderness in three

> or

> more joints in at least two different joint groups observed on more than

> one

> physical examination by a Board-certified physician and persisting for

> more

> than six weeks. [Exclusion: osteoarthritis.]

>

> 2. Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, defined as subjective complaints of dry

> eyes

> and/or dry mouth, accompanied (a) in the case of dry eyes, by either (I)

> a

> Schirmer's test less than 8 mm wetting per five minutes or (ii) a

> positive

> Rose-Bengal or fluorescein staining of cornea and conjunctiva; or ( in

> the

> case of dry mouth, by an abnormal biopsy of the minor salivary gland

> (focus

> score of greater than or equal to two based upon average of four

> evaluable

> lobules). [Exclusions: drugs known to cause dry eyes and/or dry mouth,

> and

> dry eyes caused by contact lenses.]

>

> 3. Any of the following immune-mediated skin changes or rashes, observed

> by a

> Board-certified rheumatologist or Board-certified dermatologist: (a)

> biopsy-proven discoid lupus; ( biopsy-proven subacute cutaneous lupus;

> ©

> malar rash -- fixed erythema, flat or raised, over the malar eminences,

> tending to spare the nasolabial folds [Exclusion: rosacea or redness

> caused

> by sunburn]; or (d) biopsy-proven vasculitic skin rash.

>

> GROUP II FINDINGS

>

> 4. Positive ANA greater than or equal to 1:40 (using Hep2), on two

> separate

> occasions separated by at least two months and accompanied by at least

> one

> test showing decreased complement levels of C3 and C4; or a positive ANA

>

> greater than or equal to 1:80 (using Hep2) on two separate occasions

> separated by at least two months. All such findings must be outside of

> the

> performing laboratory's reference ranges.

>

> 5. Abnormal cardiopulmonary symptoms, defined as (a) pericarditis

> documented

> by pericardial friction rub and characteristic echocardiogram findings

> (as

> reported by a Board-certified radiologist or cardiologist); (

> pleuritic

> chest pain documented by pleural friction rub on exam and chest x-ray

> diagnostic of pleural effusion (as reported by a Board-certified

> radiologist); or © interstitial lung disease in a non-smoker diagnosed

> by a

> Board-certified internist or pulmonologist, confirmed by (i) chest x-ray

> or

> CT evidence (as reported by a Board-certified radiologist) and (ii)

> pulmonary

> function testing abnormalities defined as decreased DLCO less than 80

> percent

> of predicted.

>

> 6. Myositis or myopathy, defined as any two of the following: (a) EMG

> changes

> characteristic of myositis: short duration, small, low amplitude

> polyphasic

> potential; fibrillation potentials; and bizarre high-frequency

> repetitive

> discharges; ( abnormally elevated CPK or aldolase from the muscle

> (outside

> of the performing laboratory's reference ranges) on two separate

> occasions at

> least six weeks apart. (If the level of the initial test is three times

> normal or greater, one test would be sufficient.) [Exclusions:

> injections,

> trauma, hypothyroidism, prolonged exercise, or drugs known to cause

> abnormal

> CPK or aldolase]; or © muscle biopsy (at a site that has not undergone

> EMG

> testing) showing evidence of necrosis of type 1 and 2 muscle fibers,

> phagocytosis, and an interstitial or perivascular inflammatory response

> interpreted as characteristic of myositis or myopathy by a pathologist.

>

> 7. Peripheral neuropathy or polyneuropathy, diagnosed by a

> Board-certified

> neurologist, confirmed by (a) objective loss of sensation to pinprick,

> vibration, touch, or position; ( symmetrical distal muscle weakness;

> ©

> tingling and/or burning pain in the extremities; or

>

> (d) loss of tendon reflex, plus nerve conduction testing abnormality

> diagnostic of peripheral neuropathy or polyneuropathy recorded from a

> site

> that has not undergone neural or muscular biopsy. [Exclusions: thyroid

> disease, antineoplastic treatment, alcoholism or other drug

> dependencies,

> diabetes, or infectious disease within the last three months preceding

> the

> diagnosis.]

>

> GROUP III FINDINGS

>

> 8. Other immune-mediated skin changes or rashes, observed by a

> Board-certified rheumatologist or Board-certified dermatologist: (a)

> livedo

> reticularis; ( lilac (heliotrope), erythematous scaly involvement of

> the

> face, neck, shawl area and extensor surfaces of the knees, elbows and

> medial

> malleoli; © Gottron's sign, pink to violaceous scaling areas typically

>

> found over the knuckles, elbows, and knees; or (d) diffuse petechiae.

>

> 9. Any of the following serologic abnormalities: (a) ANA greater than or

>

> equal to 1:40 (using Hep2) on two separate occasions separated by at

> least

> two months; ( one or more positive ANA profile: Anti-DNA, SSA SSB,

> RNP, SM,

> Scl-70, centromere, Jo-1 PM-Scl, or double-stranded DNA (using ELISA

> with

> standard cutoffs); © anti-microsomal, anti-cardiolipin, or RF greater

> than

> or equal to 1:80.

>

> 10. Raynaud's phenomenon, evidenced by a physician-observed two

> (cold-related) color change as a progression, or by physician

> observation of

> evidence of cold-related vasospasm, or by physician observation of

> digital

> ulceration resulting from Raynaud's phenomenon.

>

> 11. Myalgias (diffuse muscle pain), defined as tenderness to palpation,

> performed by a physician, in at least three muscles, each persisting for

> at

> least six months.

>

> 12. Dry mouth, subjective complaints of dry mouth accompanied by

> decreased

> parotid flow rate using Lashley cups with less than 0.5 ml per five

> minutes.

> [Exclusion: drugs known to cause dry mouth.]

>

> DISEASE PAYMENT OPTION I: DEFINITION OF COVERED CONDITIONS

>

> SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS/SCLERODERMA (SS)

>

> 1. A diagnosis of systemic sclerosis shall be made in accordance with

> the

> criteria established in Kelley, et al., Textbook of Rheumatology (4th

> ed.) at

> 1113, et seq.

>

> 2. Application of these diagnostic criteria is not intended to exclude

> from

> the compensation program individuals who present clinical symptoms or

> laboratory findings atypical of classical systemic sclerosis but who

> nonetheless have a systemic sclerosis-like (scleroderma-like) disease,

> except

> that an individual will not be compensated in this category if her

> symptomology more closely resembles MCTD, ACTD, or any other disease or

> condition defined below. A " systemic sclerosis-like " or

> " scleroderma-like "

> disease is defined as an autoimmune/rheumatic disease that fulfills most

> of

> the accepted standards for the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis but is in

> some

> manner atypical of systemic sclerosis or scleroderma.

>

> 3. Severity/Disability Compensation Categories

>

> A. Death or total disability resulting from SS or an SS-like condition.

> An

> individual will be considered totally disabled if the individual

> satisfies

> the functional capacity test set forth in Severity/Disability Category A

> for

> ACTD/ARS/NAC or if the individual suffers from systemic sclerosis with

> associated severe renal involvement manifested by a decrease in

> glomerular

> filtration rates. Compensation: Category A/100% disabled:

> $250,000.00/W/PREMIUM $300,000.00

>

> B. Cardio-pulmonary involvement or diffuse (Type III) scleroderma as

> defined

> by Barnett, A Survival Study of Patients with Scleroderma Diagnosed Over

> 30

> Years (1953 -1983): The Value of a Simple Cutaneous Classification in

> the

> Early Stages of the Disease, 15 The Journal of Rheumatology 276 (1988)

> and

> Masi, Classification of Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma): Relationship

> of

> Cutaneous Subgroups in Early Disease to Outcome and Serologic

> Reactivity, 15

> The Journal of Rheumatology, 894 (1988).

>

> C. Other including CREST, limited, or intermediate scleroderma, except

> that

> any Breast Implant Claimant who manifests either severe renal

> involvement, as

> defined above, or cardio-pulmonary involvement, will be compensated at

> either

> category A or B as appropriate. Cateogry B (35% to 995 disabled)

> Compensation: $200,000.00/ W/PREMIUM: $240,000.00

>

> D. Other not covered above, including localized scleroderma.

>

> SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)

>

> 1. A diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) shall be made in

> accordance with 1982 Revised Criteria for the Classification of Systemic

>

> Lupus Erythematosus, 25 Arthritis and Rheumatism No. 11 (November 1982)

> adopted by the American College of Rheumatology. See Kelley, 4th ed. at

> 1037,

> Table 61-11: A diagnosis of lupus is made if four of the eleven

> manifestations listed in the table were present, either serially or

> simultaneously, during any interval of observations.

>

> CRITERION: DEFINITION

>

> Malar rash, Fixed erythema, flat or raised, over the malar eminences,

> tending

> to spare the nasolabial folds, Discoid rash, Erythematous raised patches

> with

> adherent keratotic scaling and follicular plugging; atrophic scarring

> may

> occur in older lesions, Photosensitivity, Skin rash as a result of

> unusual

> reaction to sunlight, by patient history or physician observation, Oral

> ulcers, Oral or nasopharyngeal ulceration, usually painless, observed by

> a

> physician, Arthritis Nonerosive arthritis involving two or more

> peripheral

> joints, characterized by tenderness, swelling or effusion Serositis(a)

> Pleuritis -- convincing history of pleuritic pain or rub heard by a

> physician

> or evidence of pleural effusion or

>

> ( Pericarditis -- documented by ECG or rub or evidence of pericardial

> effusion Renal disorder (a) Persistent proteinuria greater than 0.5

> g/day or

> greater than 3 + if quantitation not performed or

> ( Cellular casts - may be red cell, hemoglobin, granular, tubular, or

> mixed

> Neurologic disorder (a) Seizures - in the absence of offending drugs or

> known

> metabolic derangements; e.g., uremia, ketoacidosis, or electrolyte

> imbalance

> or

> ( Psychosis - in the absence of offending drugs or known metabolic

> derangements; e.g. uremia, ketoacidosis, or electrolyte imbalance

> Hematologic

> disorder (a) Hemolytic anemia - with reticulocytosis or ( Leukopenia -

> less

> than 4000/mm total on 2 or more occasions or

> © Lymphopenia - less than 1500/mm on 2 or more occasions or (d)

> Thrombocytopenia - less than 100,000/mm in the absence of offending

> drugs

> Immunologic disorder (a) Positive LE cell preparation or

> ( Anti-DNA - antibody to native DNA in abnormal titer or © Anti-Sm -

>

> presence of antibody to Sm nuclear antigen or

> (d) False positive serologic test for syphilis known to be positive for

> at

> least 6 months and confirmed by Treponema pallidum immobilization or

> fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test Antinuclear antibody An

> abnormal titer of antinuclear antibody by immunofluorescence or an

> equivalent

> assay at any point in time and in the absence of drugs known to be

> associated

> with drug-induced lupus syndrome

>

> 2. The application of the ACR diagnostic criteria is not intended to

> exclude

> from the compensation program individuals who present clinical symptoms

> or

> laboratory findings atypical of SLE but who nonetheless have a systemic

> lupus

> erythematosus-like disease, except that an individual will not be

> compensated

> in this category if her symptomatology more closely resembles mixed

> connective tissue disease (MCTD), ACTD, or any other disease or

> condition

> defined below.

>

> 3. Severity/Disability Compensation Categories:

>

> A. Death or total disability resulting from SLE or an SLE-like

> condition. An

> individual will be considered totally disabled based on either the

> functional

> capacity test set forth in Severity/Disability Category A for

> ACTD/ARS/NAC or

> severe renal involvement. COMPENSATION: 100% DISABLED

> $250,000.00/W/PREMIUM:

> $300,000.00

>

> B. SLE with major organ involvement defined as SLE with one or more of

> the

> following: glomerulonephritis, central nervous system involvement (i.e.,

>

> seizures or Lupus Psychosis), myocarditis, pneumonitis, thrombocytopenic

>

> purpura, hemolytic anemia (marked), severe granulocytopenia, mesenteric

> vasculitis. See Immunological Diseases, Max Samter, Ed. Table 56-6, at

> 1352.

> COMPENSATION: $200,000.00/W/PREMIUM: $240,000.00

>

> C. Non-major organ SLE requiring regular medical attention, including

> doctor

> visits and regular prescription medications. An individual is not

> excluded

> from this category for whom prescription medications are recommended but

> who,

> because of the side effects of those medications, chooses not to take

> them.

> COMPENSATION: $150,000.00/W/PREMIUM: $180,000.00

>

> D. Non-major organ SLE requiring little or no treatment. An individual

> will

> fall into this category if she is able to control her symptoms through

> the

> following kinds of conservative measures: over-the-counter medications,

> avoiding sun exposure, use of lotions for skin rashes, and increased

> rest

> periods. NONE

>

> Plueritis is abnormal accumulation of fluid in lung tissue; pulmonary

> hypertension: a condition of abnormally high pressure within the

> pulmonary

> circulation.

>

> SLE: a chronic inflammatory disease affecting many systems of the body.

> The

> pathophysiology of the disease includes: severe vasculitis, renal

> involvement, and lesions of the skin and nervous system.

>

> MOSBY'S MEDICAL DICTIONARY:

>

> Observations: The initial manifestion is often arthritis. An

> erythematosus

> rash over the nose and malar eminences (picture in Mosby's Medical

> Dictionary

> ; butter fly rash), weakness, fatigue, and weight loss also are

> frequently

> seen early in the disease. Photosensitivity (severe sensitivity to

> sunlight),

> fever, skin lesions on the neck, and alopecia where the skin lesions

> extend

> beyond the hairline may occur. The skin lesions my spread to the mucous

> membranes and other tissues of the body. They do not ulcerate but cause

> degeneration of the tissues affected. Depending on the organs involved,

> the

> patient also may have glomerulonephritis, pleuritis, pericarditis,

> peritonitis, neuritis or anemia. Renal failure and severe neurologic

> abnormalities are among the most serious manifestions of the disease.

>

> Diagnosis of SLE is made by subjective and objective findings based on

> physical examination and laborartory findings, including finding

> antinuclear

> antibodies in the cerebrospinal spinal fluid and positive lupus

> erythematosus

> (LE) cell reaction in a lupus erythematosus prepapration (LE prep).

> Other

> laboratory examinations may be useful, depending on the organs, tissues

> and

> systems affected by the disease.

>

>