Disappointing. 10 hookworms didn’t really work statistically for asthma or allergies, but there were immune changes. I wonder what “mimic most closely natural infection” means (last line of abstract for asthma study)? Less at once, more often? Or more than 10? I am feeing extraordinarily lucky that 10 hookworms caused such a pronounced change in me; first for the worst, then for the better. I started with 10 hookworms De. 2007, got edema, arthritis, a fever, diarrhea. By month 4 I was in remission, but added 2-3 worms a week for a total of 37. Then I lost them somehow by September 2008 and lost efficacy.
I got 10 new hookworms in February 2009, then 10 more in late September 2009. My last egg count was 1400 epg. My CRP (measure of inflammation) has been normal since March 2009. So 20 worms are working for me. Weight’s been normal since March, I can eat most foods but still get diarrhea from too much fiber. Now my hormones are causing anxiety/depression, but I’m assuming that’s un-worm related. I’m almost 38 years old.
I wish we knew the ideal dosing number and dosing schedule. It seems that those with the best response are getting at least 20-30 hookworms, though I also know of Crohns patients who had to terminate because 20-25 worms were way too much at once. I wish these studies were faster since we’re just dosing in the dark.
The asthma study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20030661
Experimental hookworm infection: a randomized placebo-controlled trial in asthma.
Feary JR, Venn AJ, Mortimer K, Brown AP, Hooi D, Falcone FH, Pritchard DI, Britton JR.
Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Summary: Background Epidemiological studies suggest that hookworm infection protects against asthma, and therefore that hookworm infection may have a direct or an indirect therapeutic potential in this disease. We now report the first clinical trial of experimental hookworm infection in people with allergic asthma. Objectives :To determine the effects of experimental hookworm infection in asthma. Methods “Thirty-two individuals with asthma and measurable airway responsiveness to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) were randomized and double blinded to cutaneous administration of either ten Necator americanus larvae, or histamine solution (placebo), and followed for 16 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in provocation dose of inhaled AMP required to reduce forced expiratory volume in 1 s by 20% (PD(20)AMP) from baseline to week 16. Secondary outcomes included change in several measures of asthma control and allergen skin sensitivity and the occurrence of adverse effects. Results Mean PD(20)AMP improved in both groups, more in the hookworm [1.49 doubling doses (DD)] than the placebo group (0.98 DD), but the difference between groups was not significant (0.51 DD; 95% confidence interval: -1.79 to 2.80; P=0.65). There were no significant differences between the two groups for other measures of asthma control or allergen skin sensitization. Infection was generally well tolerated. Conclusions” Experimental infection with ten hookworm larvae in asthma did not result in significant improvement in bronchial responsiveness or other measures of asthma control in this study. However, infection was well tolerated and resulted in a non-significant improvement in airway responsiveness, indicating that further studies that mimic more closely natural infection are feasible and should be undertaken
And the allergy one:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728895/?tool=pubmed
Clin Exp Allergy. 2009 Jul;39(7):1060-8. Epub 2009 Apr 20.
Safety of hookworm infection in individuals with measurable airway responsiveness: a randomized placebo-controlled feasibility study.
Feary J, Venn A, Brown A, Hooi D, Falcone FH, Mortimer K, Pritchard DI, Britton J.
Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, UK. johanna.feary@nottingham.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence suggests that hookworm infection protects against asthma. However, for ethical and safety reasons, before testing this hypothesis in a clinical trial in asthma it is necessary to establish whether experimental hookworm infection might exacerbate airway responsiveness during larval lung migration. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hookworm larval migration through the lungs increases airway responsiveness in allergic individuals with measurable airway responsiveness but not clinical asthma, and investigate the general tolerability of infection and effect on allergic symptoms. METHODS: Thirty individuals with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and measurable airway responsiveness to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) but not clinically diagnosed asthma were randomized, double-blind to cutaneous administration of either 10 hookworm larvae or histamine placebo, and followed for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the maximum fall from baseline in provocative dose of inhaled AMP required to reduce 1-s forced expiratory volume by 10% (PD(10)AMP) measured at any time over the 4 weeks after active or placebo infection. Secondary outcomes included peak flow variability in the 4 weeks after infection, rhinoconjunctivitis symptom severity and adverse effect diary scores over the 12-week study period, and change in allergen skin test responses between baseline and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Mean maximum change in PD(10)AMP from baseline was slightly but not significantly greater in the hookworm than the placebo group (-1.67 and -1.16 doubling doses; mean difference -0.51, 95% confidence interval -1.80 to 0.78, P=0.42). Symptom scores of potential adverse effects were more commonly reported in the hookworm group, but infection was generally well tolerated. There were no significant differences in peak-flow variability, rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms or skin test responses between groups. CONCLUSION: Hookworm infection did not cause clinically significant exacerbation of airway responsiveness and was well tolerated. Suitably powered trials are now indicated to determine the clinical effectiveness of hookworm infection in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma.
2 Comments
my Dr has recently suggested that i look into these studies. Is there any conclusive evidence that hookworms dampen down such allergies? i have an allergy to latex producing anaphalxis reaction and also have multiple pollen allergies, i was horrified when this was first suggested, but would love any further information available
My first reaction when I heard of this study was to feel the growing elation of Hope…Hope that this may be a possibility of relief for my loved one’s suffering, my own suffering, and the suffering of others…that all this pain could have an end (other than the obvious), or that the misery could at least be scaled down perceptively to manageable levels.
Livable levels.
(Back to reality) Of course, I realize that this relief is contigent on positive results within the study, and that the consequences must outway the costs of treatment. THIS however, is my second reaction.
A thumbs up result would be like walking out of a beautiful dream, and walking back in again. A cure!
No two ways about it, Autoimmune Diseases ARE flat out human suffering; and, I am so tired of hurting and seeing others hurt in this way.
I have tried the conventional means of help…so I want to gave a Huzzah!for scientists who are willing to look into unconventional means to eradicate this form human suffering. While I am at it, here is a Hurray! for Hope!
From across the pond, Jennifer
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