Here's a new article on "about".
http://arthritis.about.com/b/a/257442.htm
http://
arthritis.about.com/b/a/257442.htm
I'm not sure I'm clear on what it's talking about, but I do know that I reject
the idea of autoimmunity. As soon as my rheumatologist said my body was
attacking itself I rejected the idea---it just seems so farfetched to me. Like,
if someone has an allergy that the Dr.s can't pinpoint they tell them they are
allergic to themselves! Why, that's ridiculous, I think. Anyway, I do
believe it's some sort of infection. This article, however, points to another
possible source of disease. I'm just glad someone is thinking outside of the
AI box.Well, it seems pretty clear to me. Now all we have to do is figure out how to
slow down the production of nitric oxide in our bodies. This shouldn't be
too hard, i mean, we can put a man on the moon. Why does this seem like a
difficult task. I won't hold my breath.Rereading this article, I now understand (I think) that the nitric oxide is
produced in response to antigenss, which actually supports the infection
theory. Rather than reduce the nitric oxide, which is basically the same
approach as suppressing the immune system---ie. masking the symptoms,
not getting at the cause---a good solution would be eliminating the source
of antigens (whatever that turns out to be. Mycoplasma, perhaps?)
GoGo -
Now you're doin' it, girl!
Here's the full article - http://arthritis-research.com/content/9/1/R5 If this doesn't give you a headache, nothing will.
Actually, I've read a lot on the shared epitope thing in multiple studies. When I get back to LA I'm going to have a sit down with my doc as I'm more comfortable with what has happened to me and I think I can now listen more instead of being freaked out all the time. I know he said something was funny about one of my genetic tests...so I have to figure out what it was -> and what it means to me. If he hasn't run the shared epitope one I think I'll have it run.
Here's another thing - many of these AI disease seem to show some sort of inability to process some chemical. For diabetics it's inflammation of the pancreas and insulin. For gout it's a build up of uric acid in joints. For RA it's ...nitric acid?!?!? My point is I think this supports infectious theory a lot. My ob/gyn said an infection would hit a person in whatever they were weakest. For me it was PRA -> but for my hubby it was diabetes.
Just random thoughts,
Pip
This is really something to think about. I have read this and other articles with much interest. I will taking this up with my rheumy in may. He is into research and has done a lot to put RA on the map.
Actually, the infection theory has always made more sense to me than the autoimmune theory (and autoimmunity IS a theory, not an established fact), but I tend to approach things with some skepticism so I keep digging. Science aside, I think the infection theory has credibility because when I'm having swelling and stuff it looks and feels like an infection. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...