Tag Archives: autoimmune
Hydroxychloraquine, a/k/a plaquenil, is an anti-parasitic drug that has been used to treat uncomplicated malaria and for prevention of malaria during travel. Historically, soldiers who took anti-malarial medicines reported improvement in their rheumatoid arthritis and lupus symptoms. Today, hydroxychloroquine is used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis; and it is being tested in covid-19. If hydroxychloraquine successfully treats and/or mitigates symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, we should ask whether rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are caused, in whole or…..
Surgery on the eye attracts cytokines, monocytes and lymphocytes. Infected immune cells and inflammatory markers can enter the eye through the portal created by surgery. Steroids given during and after eye surgeries reduce inflammation, but can also potentiate immortal infection and raise intraocular pressure. Patients with thyroid disease are at increased risk of developing steroid-induced elevated eye pressure and thyroid eye disease, after eye surgery, because thyroid antibodies can also attack the eye.
The November 2019 cover story, in AARP magazine, asked if decreasing chronic inflammation could be the cure for many chronic diseases. We agree with the importance of understanding inflammation in chronic diseases; and the suggestions in the article to reduce inflammation, such as diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle. However, we ask, what is causing the inflammation? The cause of chronic inflammation is chronic intracellular infections, and an impaired immune system attacking the infections! The intracellular pathogens are difficult to…..
We described in our book many observations that motivated us to write the book. One was a TV commercial for an expensive new TNF-inhibitor, to treat disabling arthritis, which showed the actress kissing a bird! Recently, we saw another commercial for an expensive psoriatic arthritis drug, which had an actor with birds on each shoulder, and a bird on his wrist eating out of his hand, while children watched nearby! TV drug advertising is out of control—but these advertisements…..
Chlamydia pneumonia, trachoma, and/or psittacosis, independently or as co-infections, can cause fibromyalgia. Chlamydia species infect endothelium, smooth muscles, and microglia, which generates increased TNF-alpha and cytokines. PCR levels for chlamydia pneumonia are higher in patients with fibromyalgia AND chronic fatigue. Chlamydia species deplete energy in the cell, impair oxygen transport across the cell wall, and trigger inflammation—which matches the cellular findings in fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a complex “autoimmune” disease, describing widespread muscle and skeletal pain, fatigue, cognitive disorders, and “somatic” symptoms (headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorders, bladder, sleep disturbances, fatigue, anxiety, and brain-fog). Fibromyalgia patients have increased oxidative stress and neurogenic inflammation (inflammation arising in nervous tissue). Their microglia overproduce TNF-alpha, cytokines, and other chemical substances that trigger pain. They have an altered microbiome, which negatively impacts the gut-brain pain connection, and induces an overreaction to mild sensory stimulus. Fibromyalgia is more common in…..
Chronic chlamydia psittacosis has been found in many types of autoimmune diseases. Psittaci was found in a significantly higher percent of patients with chronic polyarthritis and seronegative polyarthritis. The highest prevalence was found in double-negative RA and psoriatic arthritis patients. Investigation into infectious pathogens in autoimmune disease, including chlamydia psittacosis, may help discover root causes of a variety of chronic diseases. “Chlamydophila psittaci subclinical infection in chronic polyarthritis” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51863514_Chlamydophila_psittaci_subclinical_infection_in_chronic_polyarthritis
Jeremy Cornish, LAc, said, “The immune system determines what is us and what is not us.” Chlamydia is like a Trojan horse, surviving and spreading inside cells, dispersing cell fragments and abnormal proteins that confuse the immune system, and infecting immune cells. The infected and impaired immune system attacks infected cells, normal tissue (molecular mimicry), and generates inflammation that damages adjacent tissue. Autoimmune disease is a war within, precipitated by immortal pathogens and an infected immune system, which is no…..
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…..
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…..
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