Re: Son possible diagnosis - strep connection

[Guest guest]

As far as I know, the exact cause(s) of PA are still uncertain,

however, there has been a body of evidence correlating up to ten infectious

agents as precursors to psoriatic arthritis.

This theory is that, as PA is an auto-immune disease that shows heretability, a

person who carries certain genetic markers (such as HLA-B27 for 50% of those

effected), may get one of the precursor illnesses which triggers an immune

system response. Macrophages end up battling, destroying and consuming the

strep, chlamydia, or another precursor disease. Osteoclasts get sent in to clean

up the bone ends. Pieces of the precursor disease's genetic code then

bond/attach to gene sites (like HLA-B27) that are open for them in the

osteoclasts and macrophages. These osteoclasts and macrophages multiply and

become recognised as enemies by the immune system. ...more battles... more

consuming... more attaching...Before you know it, you have a swollen joint (or

10) that continues being attacked by the body's immune system. It is assumed the

same sort of thing happens to skin and other skin-like structures, hence,

psoriasis, eye issues etc. Helper T-cells may also fit into the equation as AIDS

often precedes psoriasis in many people suffering from AIDS. That's about as

much as I know - and it is all just theory at this point.

Bye for now. Brent