Monthly Archives: July 2019
Approximately 50% of lupus patients develop lupus nephritis, which is inflammation in the kidney vessels. The same pathogens cause lupus and lupus nephritis, and the pathogens create abnormal antibodies and abnormal proteins, which trigger an immune system attack, inflammation and vasculitis. Lupus patients treated with steroids and immune-suppressants are at risk for developing lupus nephritis and decreased kidney function, within five years. Chlamydia trachoma causes reproductive disease, urethritis, and lupus; and can ascend the urinary system to the kidney. Chlamydia…..
A 35 year-old woman consulted Dr. Merchant, two years after being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa; and being told she would be blind in five years. She had difficulty with daytime driving and seeing in a dimly lit room; and her contrast sensitivity test, which is a sensitive test for functional vision, was abnormal. Her laboratory testing was positive for psittacosis and H-pylori. As she was treated for the pathogens, her vision began to improve; after two months of treatment, her…..
The double rainbow over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is intended to represent a transformation in medicine, and success in conquering chronic diseases.
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY! Our book is intended to educate people about pathogens that cause chronic disease, and how humans acquire the pathogens. We read with dismay in today’s newspaper of a “problem” at an Air Force Base—flocks of pigeons have taken up residence in aircraft hangers, and are creating a “poop problem”. Airmen are ordered to spend at least 90 hours a month scraping pigeon poop off airplanes, the floor, equipment, and surfaces in the environment……
Chlamydia psittacosis is a bird pathogen, which can be transmitted to humans from birds, poultry, cats, dogs, horses, and mice. Birds are infected worldwide, particularly pigeons, raptors, and caged birds. Human psittacosis can begin as an acute respiratory infection, after inhaling bird droppings, from the environment or contaminated ventilation systems; can cause life-threatening respiratory infections or mild symptoms; and in some patients can cause acute transverse myelitis. Before antibiotics, psittacosis caused many fatal epidemics linked to pet birds; and the…..
Reiter’s and Sjögren’s syndromes are autoimmune diseases, with overlapping symptoms. Reiter’s syndrome is arthritis, conjunctivitis and urethritis. Sjögren’s syndrome includes swollen glands, dry and irritated eyes, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing. Both Reiter’s and Sjögren’s patients have arthritis and dry red eyes. Chlamydia trachoma has long been “associated” with development of Reiter’s syndrome. An Italian study found Sjogren’s patients had a high rate of chlamydia psittacosis, and all patients who had psittacosis were rheumatoid factor positive. Trachoma and psittacosis…..
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and is thought to be from the inevitable wear and tear of aging. Scientists recently identified large numbers mast cells in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritic joints; and suggested IgE-mediated mast-cell activation promoted inflammation and cartilage destruction, in osteoarthritis. Mast cells are the first immune cells to attack an infectious pathogen. Mast cells signal the immune system to start a specific sequence of attacks, by other types of immune cells (histamine…..
The US spends $3.3 TRILLION on healthcare costs, more than triple the entire national debt, every year! The US spends $1 TRILLION on medical research, every decade. Chronic disease accounts for 75% of healthcare spending; and in Medicare and Medicaid, chronic disease accounts for 99% and 83% of healthcare spending. Health insurance premiums have risen 87%, since 2000. Patients (and insurers) pay exorbitant prices for drugs to treat symptoms. Less expensive drugs to treat causes are removed from the market,…..
Lupus/autoimmune/RA patients are treated with potentially dangerous drugs. NSAIDs for pain relief put their kidneys at risk. Steroids reduce immune function, make the patient vulnerable to new acute infections, and trigger eruption of opportunistic infections. TNF-inhibitors—Embrel/Remicade/Humera/Cellcept also weaken the immune defense; and all have black box warnings for cancer and serious opportunistic infection! The black box warnings are numerous, and encompass the chronic diseases for which lupus patients are at increased risk. Antibiotics targeted at immortal pathogens (azithromax, doxycycline, minocycline);…..
The cause of lupus has been hypothesized to be bacteria (Tb, chlamydia, H-pylori, streptococcus); viruses (EBV, Hep B & C, CMV, herpes 1/2/7); and/or genetics, the environment, trauma, or stress. One study compared 50 lupus patients with 50 normal patients, and found toxoplasmosis antibodies were significantly more common in lupus patients and lupus patients had particularly high titers of toxoplasmosis. Immortal pathogens and opportunistic infections trigger lupus and lupus exacerbations, by infecting immune cells; molecular mimicry; changes in apoptosis, generating nuclear…..