Scleroderma

In the September 2009 edition of the Annals of the New York Academy of the Sciences, a study was published that had evaluated, “… the potential role infections may have on the pathogenesis of systemic scleroderma.” In this study, researchers studied serological samples taken from eighty patients of European origin with the disease (as compared to two-hundred and ninety-six healthy controls) to assess the presence of antibodies for a number of infectious agents, including, “… hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, toxoplasmosis, rubella, CMV, EBV, and Treponema pallidum.” Data collected from the study revealed, “… that antibodies against CMV, HBV, and toxoplasmosis were detected more often in patients with SSc.” Study authors concluded, “This association implies that infectious agents may have a role in disease pathogenesis and expression.”

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19758208

Scleroderma

Bacterial Infection as the Cause of Scleroderma: A Guide to Antibiotic Therapy

by Dr. Alan Cantwell MD, Pat Ganger

This easy-read article (with pictures) is intended as an Internet guide to considering this disease for antibiotic therapy, and a review of supporting literature. Dr Cantwell's illuminating microscopic work and understanding of CWD pathogens occupies the first half of the article. Pat Ganger completes the article as she describes her use of The Road Back therapy in the mid 1980's and how it saved her life (A 1995 Canadian study by Abu-Shakra and Lee showed 61% of systemic scleroderma patients died within 9 years).

Pat Ganger continues to take minocycline today, 23 years later. (MPer's might see this as a complementary, but limited antibiotic therapy by today's MP standards, but also, there was no MP in 1985.)

Dr. Cantwell reported finding pleomorphic bacteria in the skin of scleroderma patients over 20 years ago.

Member joanbpass: Scleroderma: Assessing my improvements