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Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine
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| Jim Carter 2005-10-29, 11:39 am |
| I have posted about this before. Along with Tovaxin, we seem to
be entering a new era of MS treatments. I wonder how long before
we see them? My guess is about 10 years. - jc
=========================================================
New Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine:
Multiple sclerosis short-circuits the wiring in the brain,
causing loss of feeling, vision problems, fatigue and weakness
for about 400,000 Americans. Now a new vaccine is showing
promise.
Sue Carlson works up to 12 hours a day helping others feel
better. But four years ago, she could barely muster enough energy
to work a half day. Multiple sclerosis weakened the entire right
side of her body. "I had to move a body part predominantly with
my left side and prop it on pillows or towels or blankets in
order to do the work I needed to do," she says.
But after six months on an experimental vaccine called NeuroVax,
her strength came back. "And it just kept getting better and
better and better."
NeuroVax works by increasing the number of disease-fighting white
blood cells in the immune system. It did that for all 40 patients
who received it. Unlike standard treatments, which have to be
given daily or weekly, the vaccine only has to be given once a
month, and it doesn’t cause flu-like side effects.
"What patients want are treatments that are not only effective,
but also aren't not impacting their quality of life because of
side effects," Neurologist Dennis Bourdette, M.D., of Oregon
Health & Science university in Portland, tells Ivanhoe.
Researchers say the results are encouraging, but larger studies
are needed before it can be approved.
Neurologist Arthur Vandenbark, Ph.D., also of Oregon Health &
Science university and Portland V.A. Medical Center, says, "We
still have to have a large enough trial that goes on for a
minimum of two years where we see a difference between the
vaccinated patients and the control group or the placebo group."
After a year without an injection, Carlson is waiting for a new
trial to begin, hoping that another dose of the vaccine will give
her even more strength.
Patients say the only side effect of the vaccine is a sore arm.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical
Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to:
www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Multiple Sclerosis Center of Oregon at OHSU
3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239-3098
(503) 494-5759
msnews@ohsu.edu
www.ohsu.edu/ms.
--
Spelling and grammatical errors are deliberate
to catch copyright violators. ©¿©¬
Perth, Ontario, Canada
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| bobbyD 2005-10-29, 11:39 am |
| if they increase the number of disease fighting white blood cells do they
not increase the ability for more of them to attack our myelin???
some treatments used now- chemo for Ms,, wipe out the white blood cells,,
immune system supression.
interesting angle???
bobbyD
"Jim Carter" <spamfree@sentex.ca> wrote in message
news:lvh4m11ugfsvqj3fj2becev7f77epi2u5v@4ax.com...
>I have posted about this before. Along with Tovaxin, we seem to
> be entering a new era of MS treatments. I wonder how long before
> we see them? My guess is about 10 years. - jc
> =========================================================
> New Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine:
>
> Multiple sclerosis short-circuits the wiring in the brain,
> causing loss of feeling, vision problems, fatigue and weakness
> for about 400,000 Americans. Now a new vaccine is showing
> promise.
>
> Sue Carlson works up to 12 hours a day helping others feel
> better. But four years ago, she could barely muster enough energy
> to work a half day. Multiple sclerosis weakened the entire right
> side of her body. "I had to move a body part predominantly with
> my left side and prop it on pillows or towels or blankets in
> order to do the work I needed to do," she says.
>
> But after six months on an experimental vaccine called NeuroVax,
> her strength came back. "And it just kept getting better and
> better and better."
>
> NeuroVax works by increasing the number of disease-fighting white
> blood cells in the immune system. It did that for all 40 patients
> who received it. Unlike standard treatments, which have to be
> given daily or weekly, the vaccine only has to be given once a
> month, and it doesn't cause flu-like side effects.
>
> "What patients want are treatments that are not only effective,
> but also aren't not impacting their quality of life because of
> side effects," Neurologist Dennis Bourdette, M.D., of Oregon
> Health & Science university in Portland, tells Ivanhoe.
>
> Researchers say the results are encouraging, but larger studies
> are needed before it can be approved.
>
> Neurologist Arthur Vandenbark, Ph.D., also of Oregon Health &
> Science university and Portland V.A. Medical Center, says, "We
> still have to have a large enough trial that goes on for a
> minimum of two years where we see a difference between the
> vaccinated patients and the control group or the placebo group."
>
> After a year without an injection, Carlson is waiting for a new
> trial to begin, hoping that another dose of the vaccine will give
> her even more strength.
>
> Patients say the only side effect of the vaccine is a sore arm.
>
> This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical
> Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to:
> www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert.
> If you would like more information, please contact:
>
> Multiple Sclerosis Center of Oregon at OHSU
> 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road
> Portland, OR 97239-3098
> (503) 494-5759
> msnews@ohsu.edu
> www.ohsu.edu/ms.
> --
> Spelling and grammatical errors are deliberate
> to catch copyright violators. ©¿©¬
> Perth, Ontario, Canada
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| Bobby;
>if they increase the number of disease fighting white blood cells do they
>not increase the ability for more of them to attack our myelin???
That's exactly what I thought. We're not supposed to to anything to
make our immune systems stronger.
Hmmm. . .maybe these types of white blood cells don't attack the
myelin.
Sylvia
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Sylv wrote:
> Bobby;
>
>
> That's exactly what I thought. We're not supposed to to anything to
> make our immune systems stronger.
>
> Hmmm. . .maybe these types of white blood cells don't attack the
> myelin.
Sylvia and Bob, I think that IS what they're hoping will happen.
some folks -- even some neuros who should know better -- take the easy
way out by describing M.S. to their patients as being like 'the
opposite of AIDS,' instead of one's immune system shutting down, it
gets overly ramped up. but this isn't *exactly* true. it's not like
M.S. turns your immune system into Super Immunity, where you fight off
everything because it's so strong, but unfortunately, it's also so
strong that it munches the myelin. CERTAIN immune cells actually help
fight the wonked-out myelin-destroying cells.
i've often felt that immune suppression, while currently the big
treatment, is far from perfect, the suppression is systemic and damps
down the cells we NEED as well as those that are over-active. it's why
they tell you to "avoid crowds" after you've had Novantrone -- you're
so suppressed that you'll pick up EVERYTHING you come in contact with!
i've figured that the time would come when better understanding of the
disease process and improved medical technology would enable the
experts to ONE DAY USE *focused* suppression, while leaving the rest of
the immune system there to do its work. this is actually really
exciting news, IMHO, be4cause it looks like that's what they DO hope to
accomplish...lessen the 'bad' stuff, amp up the 'good' stuff.
the results so far look impressive; i hope it turns out to be the first
step toward real, focused impact on disease PROGRESSION, as well as
just number of relapses.
best,rose
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