Re: An Immune Disorder at the Root of Autism

[Guest guest]

Hi W,

I actually saw a short segment on the news recently about treating IBD with a

parasite from pig guts, if I remember correctly. So it appears this novel

treatment is poised to go mainstream once the studies are completed.

Love,

> >

> > From: suekeswick suekeswick@

> > Subject: Is this normal?

> > To: erythema_nodosum_Group

> > Date: Monday, August 27, 2012, 1:38 PM

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> > I have recently suffered my first bout of EN. The severe swellings on

my legs and one arm have gone down and the bruising is slowly fading. However I

still feel quite unwell. My joints ache, particularly my shoulders, wrists,

knees and ankles, I get pains over my eye, (although they don't last long), my

skin itches and I feel very tired after a small amount of activity, despite

getting a full nights sleep. Is this normal after a bout of EN? I am beginning

to feel like a real moaner so have stopped telling people how I feel and just

try to get on with things but I'm not sure how long I can keep this up. I eat a

good balanced diet, lots of fruit and veg and have started taking vitamin d and

omega 3. I just want to know if this is normal or shoul I ask the dr for more

investigations.

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> > Any info gladly received.

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> > Best wishes

> >

> > Sue

> > ======================================================

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> > Pyoderma Gangrenosum (or PG)

> > This Skin Disorder Of Unknown Cause Is Related To IBD.By Amber J. Tresca,

About.com GuideUpdated August 09, 2010

> > There are many complications that can occur with Inflammatory Bowel

> > Disease (IBD) including arthritis, liver disease, nutritional disorders,

> > anemia, and skin disorders. Skin disorders are a fairly common

> > problem, and may affect up to 25 percent of people who suffer from IBD.

> > One type of skin disorder that may occur in IBD is pyoderma gangrenosum.

> >

> > What is pyoderma gangrenosum?

> > Pyoderma gangrenosum is a skin disorder that affects about 5 percent

> > of people with ulcerative colitis and about 1 percent of people with

> > Crohn's disease. Other diseases associated with pyoderma gangrenosum

> > include rheumatoid arthritis, myeloid blood dyscrasias, and hepatitis.

> > Pyoderma gangrenosum may first appear as a blister, red bump, or

> > pustule, and eventually forms an ulcer. The ulcers may appear alone or in a

group, and are commonly found on the extremities (more frequently on the legs

than on the arms).

> >

> > How does it start?

> > Pyoderma gangrenosum may start rapidly at the location of a previous

> > minor injury, such as a pinprick or cut. The surrounding skin breaks

> > down, and an ulcer quickly forms. Pyoderma gangrenosum ulcers have

> > unique purplish-colored, indistinct edges. They also tend to be quite

> > painful as well as slow to heal. Doctors are unsure what causes pyoderma

> > gangrenosum, but theorize that it may be an autoimmune condition, as it

> > is related to other autoimmune disorders.

> >

> > How is pyoderma gangrenosum related to IBD?

> > As many as 50 percent of the cases of pyoderma gangrenosum occur in

> > people with one form of IBD. At times, the occurrence of these ulcers

> > corresponds to an active flare-up of IBD, and may respond when the

> > underlying IBD is treated. Other cases, however, do not appear to be

> > directly related to disease activity, and pyoderma gangrenosum may begin

> > or even worsen when the IBD is quiescent.

> >

> > How are the ulcers treated?

> > To confirm the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum through diagnostic

> > testing, a dermatologist may be consulted. The ulcers may be swabbed and

> > cultured to test for infections, and biopsies may be used to rule out

> > other causes. Because pyoderma gangrenosum is not caused by a bacterium,

> > antibiotics may not be effective as treatment.

> >

> > Smaller pyoderma gangrenosum ulcers may be treated with:

> > Compression bandagingSteroid creams or injectionsOral anti-inflammatory

antibioticsDressings of silver sulphadiazine cream or hydrocolloids

> >

> > Larger ulcers that resistant treatment may require more intense therapy

with:

> > SteroidsCyclosporinCyclophosphamideMethotrexateTacrolimus ointment

> >

> > ==============================================================

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> > Prevention

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> > You can't prevent pyoderma gangrenosum. If you have the condition, try

> > to avoid injuring your skin. Injury or trauma to your skin can provoke

> > new ulcers to form.

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> > ==============================================================

> > Treatment

> >

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> > If you have an underlying disease associated with pyoderma gangrenosum,

> > treating that condition may help control the ulcers. However, other

> > treatments may be necessary to heal the wounds.

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> > Drugs

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> > Your doctor may prescribe the following:

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> > Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids help relieve

> > inflammation. Usually pyoderma gangrenosum is treated with oral

> > corticosteroids, such as prednisone. Side effects of corticosteroids may

> > include increased blood pressure, weight gain with fat deposits in your

> > abdomen, face and back of your neck, and increased risk of infection.

> > In some milder cases, a topical steroid †" a medication you apply to

your

> > skin †" may be used. Side effects may include skin thinning and

acne.Immunosuppressant drugs. These drugs help calm the

> > autoimmune response in your skin, which reduces inflammation. Because

> > these drugs suppress your immune system, they can place you at higher

> > risk of infections.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

> > Medications in the sulfone family, such as dapsone, are often used.

> > Milder cases might involve using minocycline, an anti-inflammatory and

> > antibiotic medication.Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Drugs such as

> > infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) have

> > shown some success in treating pyoderma gangrenosum, especially in

> > people who have associated inflammatory bowel disease. Remicade is given

> > by infusion, and Enbrel and Humira are given as injections. These drugs

> > also can make you more vulnerable to infection and to certain

cancers.High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin. When

> > corticosteroids aren't enough to control pyoderma gangrenosum,

> > intravenous immunoglubulin has shown promise as a treatment.

> >

> > As your skin heals, you'll likely taper off the corticosteroids or

> > immunosuppressants. You can expect your skin to recover several months

> > after beginning therapy. Without treatment, the ulcers may widen, remain

> > the same or slowly heal.

> >

> >

> >

> > =========================================================

> >

> > SKIN DISORDERS COMMONLY SEEN IN IBD

> > ERHTHEMA NODOSUM

> > The name literally means  " red bumps.� These tender red nodules,

which

> > usually appear over the shins or ankles and sometimes on the arms,

> > occur most in people with ulcerative colitis (2%-4%), although they may

> > also affect those with Crohn’s disease of the colon (1%-2%). Women

are

> > more commonly affected than men. Erythema nodosum generally appears in

> > conjunction with a flare-up of IBD, but it also may occur just before a

> > flare-up. It tends to improve when the bowel disease is brought under

> > control.

> >

> > PYODERMA GANGRENOSUM

> > This condition is marked by pus in the skin associated with deep

> > ulcerations. Like erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum is most often

> > found on the shins or ankles but sometimes occurs on the arms, too.

> > Beginning as small blisters, these lesions eventually join together to

> > form into deep,chronic ulcers. The disorder is somewhat more common

> > among people with ulcerative colitis (5%) than those with Crohn’s

> > disease (1%). Pyoderma gangrenosum often follows a similar course to the

> > pattern of the IBD itself, and may heal as the symptoms of IBD are

> > brought under control. Antibiotics, injections of medications into the

> > ulcers, and topical ointments all may be used as treatments.

> >

> >

> > ENTEROCUTANEOUS FISTULAS

> > A fistula is a small tunnel connecting two parts of the body. An

> > enterocutaneous fistula is an abnormal channel from the intestine to the

> > skin†" often from the rectum to the vagina, bladder, or buttocks. It

also

> > may be a complication of surgery. This type of fistula may leak pus or

> > fecal matter. Fistulas are more common in Crohn’s disease than in

> > ulcerative colitis, affecting approximately 30% of people with

Crohn’s.

> > Treatment depends on the location and severity of fistulas.

> >

> >

> > SKIN TAGS

> > Skin tags are fairly common in people with Crohn’s disease. They

> > develop around hemorrhoid swellings in and around the anus. When the

> > swellings go down, the skin around them thickens and forms into small

> > flaps. Fecal matter may attach to skin tags, irritating the skin.

> > Practicing good hygiene will help reduce discomfort and calm the

> > irritation. Surgical removal o

> >

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