DHEA for Lupus

[Guest guest]

Hi Health Activists,

Last week I was at the library reading the Journal of the American Medical

Association (JAMA) for January 10.1007 which had an article on the Research

on the Causes and Treatments for Lupus. The full name of the disease is called

Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE), characterized by the immune system

attacking itself for no apparent reason.

 

Since their is plentiful funding for Genetic Research, a large portion of

the research has been done on the possible genetic factors causing the disease

to express itself. It seems to occur more frequently in middle aged women for

some reason. The researchers seem to be perplexed and frustrated with the

limitations of the current treatments which usually consist of Non-Steroidal

Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), Immunosuppressive Drugs and Cortocosteroids.

All of these have unpleasant side effects, that can be serious.

Despite these dangerous side effects, very little work and even less

publicity has been given to the treatment with Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

DHEA

is a hormone sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. It has a very

safe profile in prior use, but since it is a hormone, many holistic doctors

have felt that, if the patient has or is at high risk for a reproductive

cancer, it might be advisable to avoid DHEA or make sure an integrative

practitioner monitors the level very closely. DHEA has been very successful in

the

treatment of Lupus (SLE) and I accordingly wrote to JAMA citing a few of these

studies. Sine I do not expect them to publish my letter I felt, it might get

some attention if I sent you a copy.

 

To The Editor:

 

The article " Researchers Probe Lupus Causes,Treatments by Tracy Hampton

appearing in the the January 10,2007 issue concentrates on the interesting

developments in possible genetic causation and theoretical mechanisms, but

overlooks the remarkably successful treatment using Dehydroepiandrosterone

(DHEA).

The author, expresses concern at the " puzzles and frustration " of those seeking

diagnostic and treatment breakthroughs, but fails to acknowledge the large

body of documented medical literature supporting this treatment with DHEA.

Unfortunately it is only known to patients who are sophisticated enough to do

their own research of the medical literature.

 

In a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial using 200 mg of DHEA

researchers found " Dehydroepiandrosterone suppresses Interleukin 10 synthesis

in Women with Systemic lupus erythematosis " by Chang,DM et al., in the Ann

Rheum Dis,2004,Dec;63(12):1623-6. DHEA significantly lupus flares.

In another double blind placebo controlled study of " Dehydoepiandrosterone

treatment of women with mild to moderate systemic lupus erythematosis: a

multicenter randomized double blind, placebo controlled trial " Chang,DM et al.

writing in Arthritis Rheum, 2002 Nov;46(11):2924-7 using 200 mg of DHEA found

that patient global assessment of improvement in the DHEA group was

statistically greater than in the placebo group.The patient having adverse

flares was

significantly less in the DHEA group.

While these were done with mild to moderate lupus, van Vollenhoven RF.et al,

conducted a " Double blind ,placebo controlled clinical trial of

dehydroepiandrosterone in severe systemic lupus erythematosis " .Their results

were

published in Lupus,1999;8(3):169-70. In a trial of 21 patients with severe

lupus,

a group that received 200 mg was felt by researchers to have more severe

symptoms at baseline. DHEA was given in addition to conventional treatment

with

corticosteroids and immunosuppressives for 6 months, followed by a 6 month

open label period. 19 patients were available for evaluation at 6 months. The

primary outcome was a prospectively defined responder analysis of improvement.

The results showed that 7 of 9 responders in the DHEA compared to 4 of 10

patients on placebo(receiving conventional therapy). Of the secondary outcome,

measuring mean improvement of SLE disease activity index (SLE-DAI) was

greater in the DHEA group.(-10.3+/-3.1 vs. -3.9+/-1.4, P less than 0.07.

Despite

these very promising results, the author inexplicably undervalues his

positive results on that the beneficial effect of DHEA and if researchers are

too

lazy to read the full results, they may be led to believe that DHEA is not

that effective. All of these studies were done overseas, but the treatment of

serious disease should not be effected by this parochialism in the age of

instant communications.( Actually the last study by van Vollenhoven might have

been done in the US, he is a professor at Stanford University Medical

Center-AG)

 

Arnold Gore

New York,NY

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

.. . . . . and it would be interesting to see how many Lupus sufferers are

addicted to Aspartame . . . .

 

Jane