RE: Re: Short -term prednisone treatment

March 22, 2006

Definitely something to weigh and consider before

actually doing.

On Mar 22, 2006, at 3:53 PM, drsmit6 wrote:

> prednisone is a steroid. Why would you want to give

> a steroid to a patient with immune regulation problems?

> My cat has IBS. The reg. vet has him on Prednisone.

> The vet-acupunturist has told us to wean him off as

> it will do more harm than good. I'm trying to remember

> the details in addition to the details from a conversation

> I had with Dr Goldberg on this.

> Something about long term effects on cells ....

>

> doris

>

March 23, 2006

Doris,

Are you familiar with some of the neurologists, at Boston Children's,

town University, Rush Medical Center, Hopkins and Kennedy

Krieger that are specifically using short-term prednisone treatments for

children with regressive autism, particularly with LKS variants and/or

epileptiform and/or EEG abnormalities? They have apparently had

remarkable/dramatic success in a sub-group of kids with major chronic

inflammation with accompanying over-active immune systems. The most

dramatic response is generally language/receptive skills. The

pulse-dose in particular is a quick burst of prednisone given very short

term at intervals to attempt to avoid long-term side affects. The idea

is to fool the immune system into calming down, such as it is used for

adults sometimes with autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal

disorders. It has apparently normalized EEGS and or seizures in some

kids that anti-epileptics or convulsants were not having an affect on.

I totally agree that it is not something that everyone should do, but I

have seen such a dramatic response in two children that if you met them

and saw this, I can guarantee you would scratch your head. And both of

these kids took it for other reasons and were not on it long-term. And

the pediatric neurologists that I am familiar with and have researched

are not quacks, they are top notch at major institutions and very

selective about how and who it is used on. I suspect from what I have

read that only certain kids are candidates and only certain kids respond

so well, but when they do, they recover and the damage to their brain

and immune system recovers quicker. So even though I may not pursue

this, it is not a silly idea, when very prominent doctors are seeing

amazing results for some children. I still think Dr. Goldberg and

appears to be very rational, and in my opinion, most likely to help a

more broad base of kids. I was just curious what his position was on

this and if he considered it useful for certain sub-groups, since there

is not one-size fits everybody, no matter what the protocol. On a side

note, on this board and some others, I got lots of responses from people

scared to be lynched by everybody, all with a story about someone that

responded big-time, and also about some rheumotologists and

immunologists who were treating ASD kids for other medical issues with

prednisone treatments and saw a big reduction in there ASD symptoms.

For some kids they remained, for some they would wear off when the

steroid treatment was over. So, it does make me wonder if it is

something that could be just a component to a child's recovery, or help

get their immune systems in check and then a more comprehensive program

like would hopefully take it the distance. Anyway, I will quite

rambling, but you asked why I would consider it, and I thought I would

answer since I have had lots of off-line replies, obviously people are

curious, just scared to talk about it.

Re: Short -term prednisone treatment

prednisone is a steroid. Why would you want to give

a steroid to a patient with immune regulation problems?

My cat has IBS. The reg. vet has him on Prednisone.

The vet-acupunturist has told us to wean him off as

it will do more harm than good. I'm trying to remember

the details in addition to the details from a conversation

I had with Dr Goldberg on this.

Something about long term effects on cells ....

doris

>

> > How does Dr. G or feel about short-term prednisone treatment?

> > I have a friend whose 4 year old ASD daughter just finished a 10-day

> > course due to bacterial pneumonial infection (along with an

> > antibiotic). She has had an unbelievable and dramatic response in

> > her ASD symptoms and her language has been dramatically improved.

> > (I realzie it may not stick, but, nonetheless). Lots of other

> > people have noticed and are asking what the deal is. I also know

> > another child really well who was diagnosed with ASD at 18 months,

> > he also had GI problems at time of presentation which were treated

> > by a local GI and in the course of this treatment, had a prednisone

> > round at age 18 months, 24 months, and 2.4 months, these were

> > typical dose for GI problems and short term. He recovered from

> > his " ASD " within months from this. He is now 4, completely typical

> > attends regular pre-school on his own, no aides, no more therapy.

> > It makes me really wonder about whether prednisone is effective for

> > a certain sub-group of kids and I understand why it is probably not

> > a good thing long-term but what about short-term rounds to see if

> > there is a response? Is this something Dr. G. just will not

> > consider, I was curious because I would really like to have my son

> > under his care and I have wondered about this particular issue.

> > Thanks for any input....

> >

> > Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

> > the original author(s), and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

> > opinion of the Research Institute and/or the Parent

> > Coalition.

> >

March 23, 2006

Prednisone bursts are often used for asthma and I believe they

are " relatively " safe. I'm not sure of the dosages with other

conditions.

My own child (the non-AS one) was on very high dosages for a 2-year

period (80 mg and then gradual weanings and then back up to 80 again..

etc...).

We were very fortunate she didn't suffer with any long-term negative

side

effects and is perfectly healthy today. But I did supplement very

carefully

and kept close monitor of her health during those years.

On Mar 23, 2006, at 5:10 AM, K. Fischer wrote:

> Doris,

>

> Are you familiar with some of the neurologists, at Boston Children's,

> town University, Rush Medical Center, Hopkins and Kennedy

> Krieger that are specifically using short-term prednisone treatments

> for

> children with regressive autism, particularly with LKS variants and/or

> epileptiform and/or EEG abnormalities? They have apparently had

> remarkable/dramatic success in a sub-group of kids with major chronic

> inflammation with accompanying over-active immune systems. The most

> dramatic response is generally language/receptive skills. The

> pulse-dose in particular is a quick burst of prednisone given very

> short

> term at intervals to attempt to avoid long-term side affects. The idea

> is to fool the immune system into calming down, such as it is used for

> adults sometimes with autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal

> disorders. It has apparently normalized EEGS and or seizures in some

> kids that anti-epileptics or convulsants were not having an affect on.

> I totally agree that it is not something that everyone should do, but I

> have seen such a dramatic response in two children that if you met them

> and saw this, I can guarantee you would scratch your head. And both of

> these kids took it for other reasons and were not on it long-term.

> And

> the pediatric neurologists that I am familiar with and have researched

> are not quacks, they are top notch at major institutions and very

> selective about how and who it is used on. I suspect from what I have

> read that only certain kids are candidates and only certain kids

> respond

> so well, but when they do, they recover and the damage to their brain

> and immune system recovers quicker. So even though I may not pursue

> this, it is not a silly idea, when very prominent doctors are seeing

> amazing results for some children. I still think Dr. Goldberg and

>

> appears to be very rational, and in my opinion, most likely to help a

> more broad base of kids. I was just curious what his position was on

> this and if he considered it useful for certain sub-groups, since there

> is not one-size fits everybody, no matter what the protocol. On a side

> note, on this board and some others, I got lots of responses from

> people

> scared to be lynched by everybody, all with a story about someone that

> responded big-time, and also about some rheumotologists and

> immunologists who were treating ASD kids for other medical issues with

> prednisone treatments and saw a big reduction in there ASD symptoms.

> For some kids they remained, for some they would wear off when the

> steroid treatment was over. So, it does make me wonder if it is

> something that could be just a component to a child's recovery, or help

> get their immune systems in check and then a more comprehensive program

> like would hopefully take it the distance. Anyway, I will quite

> rambling, but you asked why I would consider it, and I thought I would

> answer since I have had lots of off-line replies, obviously people are

> curious, just scared to talk about it.

>

> Re: Short -term prednisone treatment

>

> prednisone is a steroid. Why would you want to give

> a steroid to a patient with immune regulation problems?

> My cat has IBS. The reg. vet has him on Prednisone.

> The vet-acupunturist has told us to wean him off as

> it will do more harm than good. I'm trying to remember

> the details in addition to the details from a conversation

> I had with Dr Goldberg on this.

> Something about long term effects on cells ....

>

> doris

>

>>

>>> How does Dr. G or feel about short-term prednisone treatment?

>>> I have a friend whose 4 year old ASD daughter just finished a 10-day

>>> course due to bacterial pneumonial infection (along with an

>>> antibiotic). She has had an unbelievable and dramatic response in

>>> her ASD symptoms and her language has been dramatically improved.

>>> (I realzie it may not stick, but, nonetheless). Lots of other

>>> people have noticed and are asking what the deal is. I also know

>>> another child really well who was diagnosed with ASD at 18 months,

>>> he also had GI problems at time of presentation which were treated

>>> by a local GI and in the course of this treatment, had a prednisone

>>> round at age 18 months, 24 months, and 2.4 months, these were

>>> typical dose for GI problems and short term. He recovered from

>>> his " ASD " within months from this. He is now 4, completely typical

>>> attends regular pre-school on his own, no aides, no more therapy.

>>> It makes me really wonder about whether prednisone is effective for

>>> a certain sub-group of kids and I understand why it is probably not

>>> a good thing long-term but what about short-term rounds to see if

>>> there is a response? Is this something Dr. G. just will not

>>> consider, I was curious because I would really like to have my son

>>> under his care and I have wondered about this particular issue.

>>> Thanks for any input....

>>>

>>> Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

>>> the original author(s), and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

>>> opinion of the Research Institute and/or the Parent

>>> Coalition.

>>>

March 23, 2006

This post has just blown me away. Our son has Psoriatic Arthritis and

was put on Prednisone, almost immediately we saw a dramatic improvement

in our son's comprehension, following of instructions and basically his

intelligence. So much so that the school even contacted us to ask us if

we had put in on Ritalin or something. We queried this with his

Rheumatologist and he said it was a coincidence and nothing to do with

the steroid. When he had to go off the steroid because of the fact that

long term use causes severe side effects, the change back to our old son

was almost immediate. The Rheumatologist again told us we were

imagining it. Obviously we know that it's not the solution we are

looking for but it confirms for my husband and myself that we are not

crazy! If only there was away to tap into what causes the changes

without bad side effects!!!! Do you know of any good sites we could

have a look at for more information as I would like to read up on it as

well as give a copy to the Rheumatologist!!! For those wondering, our

son was diagnosed at 3 1/2 with autism, he is also dyspraxic and has

central processing disorder. He is totally recovered from his Autism

and has been since he was about 6 by doing the Louvas program as well as

a gluten/dairy free diet and Tomatis, Bio feedback and just about every

other program we could think of. He has been in mainstream school

without an aid since the age of 7 and is indistinguishable from his

peers but he struggles with organisational, listening and processing

skills. We tutor him once a week at home and he manages to keep up. He

is in his first year of high school this year which has been a huge

challenge for him because of the organisation it requires but when he

was on the Prednisone he was just perfect, no problems at all, a totally

different child.

Thanks for your advice.