Helminthic therapy and scleroderma
The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]
Scleroderma is a disease that may only exist because of an absence of helminths.
- 2016 Nov Aberrant immune response with consequent vascular and connective tissue remodeling - causal to scleroderma and associated syndromes such as Raynaud phenomenon and other fibrosing syndromes? -- Full text | PDF
The missing communication cues from the helminth to the mammalian host can cause exacerbated and uncontrolled immune responses, which in turn can cause widespread vasculopathy and fibrosis, including the pulmonary arteries. It follows that treatment with medical helminths… could provide novel means of intervention for systemic sclerosis, systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary hypertension, and other autoimmune connective tissue diseases.
More papers are listed on the Helminthic therapy research page.
Media coverage[edit | edit source]
The following videos feature scleroderma sufferer, Jane Puckey.
- Could a dose of worms be the answer to treating incurable autoimmune diseases? - TV segment, TVNZ Sunday, YouTube
- Why Worms Matter - Helminthic Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases - Ben Adams talks to Jane Puckey, YouTube
The anecdotal evidence[edit | edit source]
The reintroduction of helminths can be very beneficial for those with this disease.
The first report is more detailed than the quotes that follow it.
- The following five posts are by the same individual.
- It is 10 weeks since inoculating the probiotic therapeutic helminith N. americanus. I have systemic sclerosis aka scleroderma for 8 years. I have crest, with all the usual symptoms. I started to see skin softening on the back of my hands from 6 weeks. My energy is better. I feel alive and hopeful for a future which I suspected might be quite constrained. I had hard immovable skin for the last 8 years and now it's a miracle! [1] (This post includes before-and-after pictures of this self-treater's hands.)
- Six months ago, I took 10 hookworm. I've since had about 10 more. I have had great results. Skin softening, can almost make a fist now and can drink from a water bottle without spilling water all down my front because my lips have softened and can seal around the nozzle. My muscles are not burning when I exercise and I can build fitness where before if I did more than a gentle walk I would have to rest for a couple of days. I just don't have to pace myself like I did, no myositis flares in 6 months and have weaned from 7.5 mg prednisone down to 4.5. My energy is hugely improved (better than I remember even before I got scleroderma). My raynauds has mostly gone (its summer here but last summer it still appeared). I feel like I have my life back! [2]
- Nine month update. I have had continued skin softening which is noticeable on hands and face. I haven't had to use high dose prednisone in the 9 months hosting which is a big change, usually I need to go up to 30mg every few months. I have got down to 5 mg a day. I'm not climbing any mountains right now but am working and walking on the flat. And dancing without sneaking extra prednisone. So... all and all it's a cautious win on the myostis front. Raynaud's I can definitely claim a big improvement. The temperature is dropped here and I am not getting much: a faint blush of blue fingertips occasionally but I previously had severe reaction to a faint breeze, so subjectively I think its 80% better. [3]
- (At 6 years) Myositis is completely in remission. Scleroderma 90% better. I'm off all steroids and immunosuppressive drugs for years now. I started with NA and now do 2 species which is even better. I added tso a couple of years ago... Small improvements at first. It took 1-2 years for remission. [5]
The following resounding success was reported in a private message from an individual with MCTD - a crossover syndrome that includes components of scleroderma, dermatomyositis and polymyositis, as well as lupus - who had been on hydroxychloroquine and prednisone for 5 years.
There are reports from other individuals with MCTD in the following page section.
Helminth selection and dosing for scleroderma[edit | edit source]
The human hookworm, Necator americanus (NA) is the clear front runner in the treatment of scleroderma with helminths, and TSO is providing additional benefits for those already self-treating with NA.
The use of NA in scleroderma patients with lung disease
Helminthic therapy can certainly be beneficial in patients with pulmonary complications associated with scleroderma.
However, anyone with pulmonary disease who wishes to try helminthic therapy using hookworms (NA) should adopt a very conservative and gradual approach to dosing to avoid the possibility of developing Loffler’s syndrome. See Too many hookworms may cause Löffler’s (Loeffler's) syndrome.
One patient with existing advanced lung disease associated with scleroderma (pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease), who had enjoyed significant benefits after two initial doses of NA (the first of 5 and the second of 15) then developed Loffler’s syndrome following a further dose of 15 NA. She went into right heart failure requiring admission to hospital, termination of her hookworm colony and a course of high dose prednisone. For more detail about this case see: Do hookworms pose a threat to patients with respiratory disease?
Others with lung issues associated with scleroderma who are interested in trying helminthic therapy with hookworms might therefore be advised to start with a dose of only 3 NA, followed not less than 12 weeks later by a further 3, or possibly 5, and perhaps using doses no larger than 10 indefinitely. If they want to see what additional effect, if any, larger doses might have, it would be advisable to make any increase very gradually, and perhaps also extend the intervals between doses. For more on hookworm dosing in general, see Hookworm dosing and response.
See also[edit | edit source]
Another healing modality that might provide a useful adjunct to helminthic therapy for people with scleroderma.