posted
I came across this whilst web-surfing today. Apparently in Britain they've discovered that a drug typically used to treat leukemia can halt and/or reverse MS.
I've no idea what implications this may or may not have for those battling lyme--I just thought I'd post the link here and share the information.
Even if it doesn't help those afflicted with lyme, I'm thrilled they've found something for those suffering with MS.
Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
It is believed (currently) that HHV-6 (Human Herpesvirus Six) is the trigger for MS (reactivates).
This is what the drug is:
Alemtuzumab (marketed as Campath, MabCampath or Campath-1H) is a monoclonal ***antibody*** used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and T-cell lymphoma.
Alemtuzumab ***targets CD52, a protein present on the surface of mature lymphocytes, but not on the stem cells*** from which these lymphocytes were derived. It is used as second line therapy for CLL. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients who have been treated with alkylating agents and who have failed fludarabine therapy.
A significant complication of therapy with alemtuzumab is that it significantly increases the risk for opportunistic infections, in particular, reactivation of cytomegalovirus.
Alemtuzumab is also used in some conditioning regimens for bone marrow transplantation and kidney transplantation. It is also used under clinical trial protocols for treatment of some autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, in which it shows promise
***Campath-1H works by destroying the body's T cells***
which are believed to be responsible for initiating the destructive process seen in multiple sclerosis.
HHV-6 has also been proposed to be a cofactor in AIDS because both HHV-6 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been demonstrated to coinfect human CD4+ T cells, causing accelerated cytopathic effects.
Soooo...if the HHV-6 virus is infecting T cells, then destroying the T cells is logical.
Or...remove the thymus gland ?(would need small doses of steroids the rest of the person's life)...which is done in MG.
Drastic, but it works.
Prolactin, given to mice, spontaneously restored the myelin sheath.
Just another possible approach.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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MS is a collection of inflammation symptoms, not a clear and definite disease with a clear and definite cause.
The autoimmune model of MS is an unproven theory, but it's written about and spoken of as though the theory were proven.
Turns out most people with MS are riddled with chronic infections like Lyme, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumonia, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, and so on as well as elevated heavy metals, gut problems, gluten and casein sensitivities, etc.
Does this sound familiar?
Unfortunately, mainstream neurologists are stuck on the autoimmune model even though they will tell you they are very dissatisfied with FDA-approved treatments for MS (that are all based on that model).
They are not looking for or treating chronic infections.
The closest they come to that way of thinking is in ordering the ELISA test to rule out Lyme, not realizing what a gross exercise in futility that test is.
There may be people out there with MS who are exceptions to the rule and truly do have a primarily autoimmune illness or some other type of illness, but I believe they are a strict minority.
That's not to say that the germy MS bunch don't have autoimmune problems.
They do have them, but the autoimmunity is secondary and develops from the primary problems---the infections and toxins.
Get rid of the inciting factors, and the toadies should fade away.
Now why would someone with chronic infections want to do a self-destructive thing like squash his/her immune system when there are comparatively much safer treatments available for the likely culprits...like antibiotics and antivirals?
My question about the "halting" of MS symptoms by using this drug is this: FOR HOW LONG?
-------------------- Dallas caregiver for husband Steve who has Bb, Cpn, Mpn, EBV, CMV, other Herpes family viruses Posts: 51 | From Dallas, TX | Registered: May 2008
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
I know it sounds way too drastic, but I know personally a young man who got MG (rare for young people)within months following a trip to a 5 star dude ranch with his parents...and it got so bad he could not even keep his eyelids open.
(Extreme muscle weakness)
They removed his thymus.
He totally recovered...went to college, married, fathered a healthy child...
And is doing very very well.
Sometimes we need to take "drastic" measures...until science catches up.
If the pathogen has "nothing" to lock onto...it can't survive.
Yes...it is far better to reactivate the
protective genes.
"ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2007) -- Researchers at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville have found that a key gene is often "silenced" in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer, and
when they restored that gene in human kidney cancer cells in culture and animal experiments, tumors stopped growing and many disappeared."
In lyme...activating RXR alpha, beta and gamma may have profound effects.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
It just another fancy wy of saying an imm,une suppressant. O624 's observation are correct.
I was labled MS for 17yrs before I got the name of a famous llmd.
This LLMD has a presentation (collection of published research) tying Lyme to MS.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
More alarmingly, 23% of patients on alemtuzumab experienced autoimmune thyroid dysfunction, compared with 3% on interferon. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) occurred in 6 of the 216 patients on alemtuzumab and only 1 on interferon. The interferon-treated patient developed intracranial hemorrhage before ITP was diagnosed and subsequently died. The other 5 cases of ITP were identified early and either reversed spontaneously or responded to treatment.
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