Helminthic therapy and lupus
Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Exposure to helminths introduces a legitimate target for the immune system, thereby distracting it from attacking bodily tissues.
The two helminth species that have proved to be particularly effective in reducing lupus symptoms are TSO and NA. HDC may add to the benefits provided by NA and TSO, as can be seen from the details below.
The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]
The following papers all concern aspects of the effects on lupus of helminths and their products.
- 2023 Jul 18 Gut microbiota: a newly identified environmental factor in systemic lupus erythematosus -- Full text | PDF
- 2022 Feb 24 Helminth products modulate innate immune recognition of nucleic acids in systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2020 Jun Suppression of systemic lupus erythematosus in NZBWF1 mice infected with Hymenolepis microstoma
- Infection with the murine helminth, Hymenolepis microstoma, protected mice against the development of lupus, improved all signs and symptoms of the disease, and prevented death.
- 2019 Feb 19 Helminth-Based Product and the Microbiome of Mice with Lupus -- Full text | PDF
- 2018 Aug Tuftsin-phosphorylcholine (TPC) equally effective to methylprednisolone in ameliorating lupus nephritis in a mice model -- Full text | PDF
- 2017 Apr Diminished IL-17A levels may protect filarial-infected individuals from development of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus -- Full text
- 2017 Jun 5 Helminthic Therapy: A New Era in Immune-Mediated Diseases -- Full text (Mixed connective tissue disease/MCTD, Raynaud phenomenon)
- 2015 Nov Drug-like analogues of the parasitic worm-derived immunomodulator ES-62 are therapeutic in the MRL/Lpr model of systemic lupus erythematosus -- Full text | PDF
- 2015 Apr 17 Helminths and autoimmunity: the good, the bad and the ugly -- PDF
- 2015 Apr Taenia solium in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: do parasites protect against autoimmune diseases -- PDF
- 2015 Apr The parasitic worm product ES-62 targets myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent effector mechanisms to suppress antinuclear antibody production and proteinuria in MRL/lpr mice -- Full text | PDF
- A worm-derived immunomodulator protects against kidney damage in lupus/SLE.
- 2015 Mar The immunomodulatory parasitic worm product ES-62 reduces lupus-associated accelerated atherosclerosis in a mouse model -- Full text | PDF
- 2014 Dec Absence of filarial infection in patients of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in filarial endemic area: a possible protective role -- Full text | PDF
- 2014 Oct 27 Efficacité thérapeutique du composé phosphorylcholine-tuftsin dans un modèle murin de lupus -- PDF (thesis, in french)
- 2014 Jan 28 Interplay of infections, autoimmunity, and immunosuppression in systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2009 Nov Parasitic infection and autoimmunity
- 2006 Jun-dec Protective Role of Helminthiasis in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases -- Full text | PDF
The anecdotal evidence[edit | edit source]
- The following quote is from an individual who has MCTD (a crossover syndrome that includes components of scleroderma, dermatomyositis and polymyositis) as well as lupus, and who had been on hydroxychloroquine and prednisone for 5 years.
The worms have been working for me. I have been in drug free remission for over 3 months now, I hypothesize that other lupus-spectrum disorders will respond similarly. After all, HLA-B27 is an autoimmune marker that is shared by inflammatory bowel disease as well as lupus/MCTD.
- A helminth provider reported in 2015 that he had had seven clients with lupus and lichen ruber planus who had experienced full remission during a course of 10 doses of TSO. [1] In the following two years, a further four cases had been added to his list. (Link expired)
- Many of the lupus patients who used TSO mentioned to their provider that they had had good results with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) which mostly affects the skin. They also reported good results with other SLE symptoms such as swelling and pain in the joints, muscle pain, headache and migraine, gastrointestinal complaints and general complaints like tiredness, fatigue, poor performance, weight loss, etc. [2]
For several further reports by people who are treating lupus with helminths, see the following link.
Lupus, helminths and CRP[edit | edit source]
- A subject using NA to treat Mixed Connective Tissue Disease/Lupus reported that her CRP fell from 2.20 to 0.50 (Standard Range: 0.02 - 0.5 mg/dL). [3]
- A lady with Crohn's, lupus and coeliac disease, who had accidentally become infected with the helminth, Enterobius vermicularis, reported that her rheumatologist apparently had difficulty believing his eyes when her test results showed that her CRP was near normal. [4]
[edit | edit source]
In one case, hookworms proved to be effective for someone who has alopecia as a result of the lupus component of her disease.
And, in another case…
- Hi, I just wanted to let people know that I have been using HDC with great success for the last 6 months. I have lupus and myasthenia gravis and it has definitely helped. Along with HDC I do also use NA and have been for three years, though for me it wasn't enough on its own and it gave me severe GI issues. I lost my hookworms frequently, but after adding the HDC, I have not had that happen. One huge bonus for me is that I have had hair grow in that I thought was permanently gone due to the lupus.
Lupus nephritis[edit | edit source]
And there is a very positive anecdotal report of NA producing improvements in lupus nephritis:
Further reading[edit | edit source]
Autoimmune lupus can be a side effect of the drug Metformin
Lupus, along with three other autoimmune conditions (Sjögren's syndrome, Graves' disease, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) may be caused by a human retrovirus called the Human Intracisternal A-type Particle, or HIAP, the first A-type retrovirus to have been found in humans.