Morgellons May Have An Organic Basis

[Guest guest]

About two years ago there was some discussion here about parasites and the

emerging disease syndrome called Morgellons. At the time most doctors were

refusing to treat such patients with little else beside tranquillizers. Many

patients were diagnosed as being delusional. They often had severe skin

symptoms, some of which were unexplained fibers, skin lesions, intense itching

and parasites beneath the skin or in the lesions. Since most patients were

dismissed as delusional by doctors very little testing of any sort was done.

There were a few sympathetic doctors who did treat these patients, but at the

beginning of this emerging disease these doctors were few and far between.

Studies of any size have so far been very limited and inconclusive. Much study

has been private and so funds were very limited. There is a small study which

has been conducted under the auspices of the CDC by Kaiser Permanente in

Northern California assisted by the labs of the Armed Forces Institute of

Pathology (AFIP). A year and a half after the study's conclusion there is still

no information as to what, if anything, was found by this small preliminary

government study. The CDC says they have to publish their findings in a peer

reviewed journal before any information can be released to the public. Meanwhile

these patients still do not know what they have or how it can be effectively

treated.

 

Here is an abstract from the American College of Gastroenterology which

discusses a patient who has been diagnosed as having the symptoms of Morgellons

or Unexplained Dermopathy (as it is called on the CDC website).

 

I know this is off the topic of TCM, but I thought it was important to share

this new information with the group. It will be interesting to read the rest of

the article whenever it is published. This information was presented at a

medical meeting by conventional doctors. Hopefully this will lead to more

research about what is actually happening to the body to cause such symptoms.

 

Abstract P984: Small Bowel Capsule Findings Suggest that Morgellon's Disease has

an Organic Basis and is Not Psychosomatic in Origin

Type: Abstract

 

Tuesday Oct 27, 2009

 

Time: 12:15 PM - 2:00 PM

 

Description: This abstract will be presented as part of Poster Session 3 -

10/27.

 

Purpose: Background: Morgellon's disease is a poorly described, severe

ulcerative skin condition that histologically is consistent with dermatitis

artefacta. It has therefore been dismissed as a psychosomatic disorder, much as

was the case with ulcerative colitis in the period from 1930 to 1960. We present

the first case of a patient with Morgellon's syndrome who had additional

findings suggesting that it is a systemic disease.

 

Case report: A 65 year old white female presents to us with an unexplained iron

deficiency anemia. She had a history of systemic lupus and a 2 year history of

severe skin ulcerations. The ulcers contained fragments of black material. She

had been seen by multiple specialists who told her that the lesions were

self-inflicted and that she should get psychiatric care. Physical exam was of

note for numerous papules with erythematous, ulcerated centers measuring 2 to 12

mm located on the trunk, back, upper and lower limbs and outer ear canal. The

ulcers were notable for sharply angulated corners and clearly demarcated edges.

She had extensive scarring on her arms and legs. Her labs were notable for a

hemoglobin of 9.1 g/dL with MCV 83.3, serum albumin 3.4, and ESR 32. ANA was

negative. She had recently completed a course of intravenous iron. A video

capsule was performed. This showed denuded villous patches in the jejunem, which

were unusual for their sharply angulated appearance, similar to her skin

lesions. Small bowel biopsies were normal. Skin biopsy showed hemorrhage and

non-specific inflammation. Histology of the black debris from her ulcers

suggested vegetable matter. Repeat capsule examination 6 months later showed

spontaneous resolution of the denuded patches. Occlusion treatment on one limb

led to some improvement.

 

Discussion: This patient demonstrated cutaneous ulceration consistent with

Morgellon's syndrome, but she had co-existing evidence for systemic disease with

iron deficiency, low albumin and small bowel villous changes consistent with a

mild enteritis. This is the first time that evidence for systemic disease has

been demonstrated in association with what has previously been considered a

disorder limited to the skin. Further investigations are warranted in a larger

patient population.Methods: N/AResults: N/AConclusion: N/A

 

http://acgconnect.bdmetrics.com/SOW-2856205/Abstract-P984-Small-Bowel-Capsule-Fi\

ndings-Suggest-that-Morgellon-s-Disease-has-an-Organic-Basis-and-is-Not-Psychoso\

matic-in-Origin/Overview.aspx

 

http://www.cdc.gov/unexplaineddermopathy/

 

http://www.cdc.gov/unexplaineddermopathy/investigation.html