Ulf
08-15-2009, 08:53 AM
Helminthic therapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy), a type of Immunotherapy, is the treatment of autoimmune diseases and immune disorders by means of deliberate infestation with a helminth or with the ova of a helminth. Helminths are parasitic worms such as hookworms. Helminthic therapy is currently being studied as a treatment for several (non-viral) auto-immune diseases including Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and ulcerative colitis. Autoimmune liver disease has also been demonstrated to be modulated by active helminth infections.
In addition to these autoimmune disorders, interest is increasing regarding diseases that involve inflammation but that are not currently considered to include autoimmunity as a component. For example, heart disease and arteriosclerosis both have similar epidemiological profiles as autoimmune diseases and both involve inflammation, and their recent increase in incidence cannot be solely attributed to environmental factors according to a recent paper proposing the eradication of helminths as an explantion of this discrepancy.
Helminthic therapy consists of the inoculation of the patient with specific parasitic intestinal nematodes (helminths). There are currently three closely related treatments available. Inoculation with Necator americanus', commonly known as hookworms, or Trichuris suis Ova, commonly known as Pig Whipworm Eggs, or inoculation with Trichuris trichiura Ova commonly referred to as human whipworm eggs.
Helminthic therapy has emerged as one possible explanation for the low incidence of autoimmune diseases and allergies in less developed countries, together with the significant and sustained increase in autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries. Current research and available therapy is targeted at, or available for, the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis, asthma, eczema, dermatitis, hay fever and food allergies.
In addition to these autoimmune disorders, interest is increasing regarding diseases that involve inflammation but that are not currently considered to include autoimmunity as a component. For example, heart disease and arteriosclerosis both have similar epidemiological profiles as autoimmune diseases and both involve inflammation, and their recent increase in incidence cannot be solely attributed to environmental factors according to a recent paper proposing the eradication of helminths as an explantion of this discrepancy.
Helminthic therapy consists of the inoculation of the patient with specific parasitic intestinal nematodes (helminths). There are currently three closely related treatments available. Inoculation with Necator americanus', commonly known as hookworms, or Trichuris suis Ova, commonly known as Pig Whipworm Eggs, or inoculation with Trichuris trichiura Ova commonly referred to as human whipworm eggs.
Helminthic therapy has emerged as one possible explanation for the low incidence of autoimmune diseases and allergies in less developed countries, together with the significant and sustained increase in autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries. Current research and available therapy is targeted at, or available for, the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis, asthma, eczema, dermatitis, hay fever and food allergies.