A Blessing in Disguise
A while ago we did a blog series revolving around Lupus, also known as the Great Imitator or Great Mimicker. Now, emerging research from the American College of Rheumatology shows that an experimental treatment takes aim at this destructive disease afflicting nearly 1.5 million Americans.
One study was conducted using large doses of vitamin D on 24 people diagnosed with lupus who show little or mild disease activity and also low levels of vitamin D. At the beginning of the study these patients were given 100,000 international units of vitamin D once a week for one month. After the initial four weeks, they received one monthly injection of the same dosage for another six months. The treatment showed no signs of patients developing an excess of calcium in their blood or forming calcium deposits (kidney stones), demonstrating that the treatment was well received.
Researchers discovered that the treatment boosted the good immune cell activity while downplaying immune cells that are believed to play a role in lupus. Though the results have been promising researchers admit the need for larger trials to concretely prove that this will benefit patients stricken with this debilitating disease. However hopeful this research may be, researchers STRONGLY advise that no one under ANY circumstance attempt this treatment on their own. For more information, talk to your rheumatologist and visitwww.lupus.org to find support, information or to volunteer. This blessing is now out in the open, out of its disguise for the world to see, offering hope to all lupus sufferers.