Fw: Immune System Dysregulation (Autoimmunity, Collagen Vascular Diseases)

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----- Original Message ----- From: Kathi

Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 7:58 AM

Subject: Immune System Dysregulation (Autoimmunity, Collagen Vascular Diseases)

Immune System Dysregulation (Autoimmunity, Collagen Vascular Diseases) These illnesses, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Silicone Toxicity Syndrome, are all related by that pervasive fact that part of the immune system of the individual has been transformed by "something" into a dysfunctional system that attacks "itself." The varied diseases are all "talked about" individually and diagnosed by a set of criteria including historical data, physical findings and laboratory abnormalities. Basically, no one knows the cause of any of these illnesses after 100 years of trying to figure them out. Why? Possibly because medical science has been looking for the singular cause of each of these diseases, and completely disregarding the environment in their thought processes. In general, the way these illnesses are dealt with today, as in the past, is by treating the symptoms of the illness, usually by suppressing the upregulated immune system. We know all about the esoteric laboratory abnormalities in these patients from which CD cells are abnormal to what HLA type is involved, but not why this happened. In Environmental Medicine we feel that all of these diseases have a basic common denominator: some genetic and environmental factors have come together to yield these diseases. It is known that xenobiotic (foreign) chemicals of all sorts can damage the immune system and lead to dysregulation. By the time you look for the chemical that did the damage, but it has left the body. This is like a bullet that enters the body, does its damage and leaves. Other environmental factors may also be responsible such as heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, etc.). There is a great amount of evidence in the literature linking mercury with abnormal immune system changes. How these toxic materials actually do the damage on a molecular level is not exactly known, but this might be the causative factor accompanying a genetic predisposition. A thorough environmental history is taken. This is very significant in revealing the possible exposures that might link the cause to the disease. Then a physical examination is performed. Various laboratory studies are done which do not really serve to name the disease or to look for which organ is damaged, because usually that has been done before the patient comes to see an environmental physician. We look for the “functional flaws” in the patient’s biochemistry and physiology. For example, if the patient has gastrointestinal complaints, we rule out any anatomical problems and then look for digestive problems and an infectious process caused by various organisms. We study the nutritional state of the individual, what "toxic loads" (chemicals or metals) with which the body has to deal. We look at the detoxification systems in the liver. We might look to see if mitochondrial or enzyme systems have been damaged. All of this is done to begin to heal the body. The immune system is looked at in depth so as to plan a therapeutic plan to reverse the dysregulation in a natural way using therapies like transfer factor, thymus extracts, immune modulating herbs, bio-oxidative therapy, etc. In recent years, there has been some good scientific evidence that these diseases, especially Rheumatoid Arthritis, can be helped by treating with certain antibiotics for a long-term course. This, along with nutritional therapy and a special immunotherapy for various individual sensitivities. The theory behind this therapy is called molecular mimicry. It means that the immune system attacks certain bacteria and that there are exact amino acid sequences in areas, for example, in the joints to the sequence on the bacteria. The immune system thus attacks the joints Similarly it could attack other tissues as in Lupus and Scleroderma. The treatments are quite harmless and may stop and or reverse a very serious set of illnesses. More details are available when and if we can be of service to you. The program we offer is a comprehensive project aimed at "finding the flaws" and naturally repairing the systems that have beem damaged. The evaluations that are done and the treatment protocols that are planned are uniquely designed for the individual, because each patient’s situation is totally different than that of the next patient and cannot be studied nor treated in the same manner. What About Systemic Lupus Erythematosis? (Some of the material which follows derives from the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th Edition [saunders], and is gratefully acknowledged). General This syndrome was first described in the early 1800s. It is an illness of supposed unknown origin, but has, as its two main characteristics, environmental and genetic root systems. This illness is characterized pathologically by inflammation in many different organ systems associated with the production of antibodies that react with all parts of the cell. Some of the symptoms seen in patients are: Fatigue Fever Rash Anemia Sun Sensitivity Hair Loss Joint Inflammation Inflammation of Heart and Lung Linings Inflammation of the Kidneys Central Nervous System Inflammation The progression of the illness can vary a great deal including periods of remission and worsening. The basic process is brought on in susceptible (genetically prone) individuals when an environmental insult causes dysregulation in the immune system. This leads to abnormal immune activation which finally leads to the pathological production of antibodies against various tissues in the body. It is the concepts of clinical molecular medicine practiced at our center that allows us to look at the "roots" of the environmental dysregulating factors and solve the puzzle of the syndrome of Lupus for the individual. This will then allow the healing of the body to begin. The above process differs from the orthodox method of dealing with this and most illnesses - traditional medicine treats symptoms of the illness without searching for the "root causes" and thus true "healing" may not begin. Criteria for Diagnosing Lupus: In general, we do not look at these illnesses by naming them. Our-methods relate to looking at all the complaints (signs and symptoms) and then we find the molecular (immunotoxicological and nutritional biochemical) reasons for them. These are the traditional criteria: Malar Rash - a rash that is red all of the time (flat or raised) seen over cheeks. Discord Rash - raised red patches with scaling and scarring. Photosensitivity - skin rash secondary reaction to sunlight. Oral Ulcers - painless type. Arthritis - non-erosive involving peripheral joints with tenderness and swelling. Serositis - inflammation of lung or heart covering. Kidney - protein in urine or signs of cast formation. Neurologic - seizures or psychosis. Hematologic,- anemia and low white blood cell count; decreased platelets. Immunologic - Anti-DNA and Anti-SM. Antinuclear Antibody - an abnormal titer of this antibody. Incidence Lupus can occur at any age, but most develop it between 13 and 40 years of age. In children, it occurs three times more commonly in girls. In patients in their teens, twenties and thirties, 90% are female. It occurs 3 times more often in American Blacks than in Caucasians. If a family member has SLE the incidence of it occurring is 5% in their children. Cause Generally, it is unknown! Environmental agents like drugs, heavy metals, chemicals and organisms (fungi, viruses, bacteria) may trigger this immune activation in genetically prone individuals. The immune dysregulation leads to loss of self- tolerance and increases in B-cells capable of forming autoantibodies. In some individuals the inherited predisposition may be very important with the environmental triggers playing a minor role. Other patients may have very little genetic proclivity and the environmental dysregulators are the major source of the illness. The characteristics of the illness are related to the production of autoantibodies that react with self constituents and initiate inflammation and pain, etc. There are three types of cells in the immune system involved in the illness: macrophages, B-cells and helper T-cells. The macrophages (large white blood cells) are the first to encounter the foreign material. The macrophage displays a fragment of the foreign substance on its surface. This antigen is recognized by the helper T-cell. The T-cells produce Iymphokines (chemicals) which activate the B-cells which are programmed to attack the antigens. This leads to inflammation and free radical damage to the organs involved in the lupus process. How to evaluate the patient? At our Center we look at the various complex characteristics of the body that could be involved in this disease process: Toxic Materials Organ System Injury Detoxication Characteristics Nutritional (cellular) Biochemistry Immunopathology Gastrointestinal Ecology Intestinal Permeability Environmental Sensitivities Micro-organism triggers Therapy for the Patient Once we identify all the "puzzle pieces" we begin to remove the toxins, give the body the "fuel" (nutritional supplements) it needs to heal and deal with organ alterations and down-regulate the immune system. All of this is done on an individual basis and is based on the pathology found in that patient. Some of the types of therapies used are: Gamma Globulin Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization Nutritional Therapy Heavy Metal Chelators Heat Depuration Therapy Environmental Controls Dietary Changes Probiotics Gl Healing Techniques Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation and many others Summary In taking care of an individual who has developed an immune dysregulated process the goal is healing - not merely treating the symptoms of the illness. It's a slow process but leads to a renewed quality of life, and not a life filled with drugs and all of their side effects. If you are interested in not treating the symptoms but rather getting well and you are willing to commit to extensive laboratory testing, life style changes, and a few years of dedicated healing therapies, this center is the place for you! Call us for details. http://www.edelsoncenter.com/Diseases_Treatment/isd-acvd.htm