Fulminant central nervous system demyelination associated with interferon- therapy and hepatitis C virus infection

[Myown]

I remember making a comment to someone on forum saying "isn't it odd that we seem to see so many people being dx with MS. I personally know several people. At that time, I said I wonder if this could somehow be related to HCV, since hardly any doctor checks people for HCV unless the patient themselves asks. Now here in this study it says that the person developed MS AFTER the interferon theraphy,,,but what IF the HCV did in fact cause the MS and the interferon only brought it out - as it seems to do with other diseases/autoimmune after tx. Notice it says "neuropathological confirmation of MS associated with IFN- therapy and HCV infection is lacking." I hope they start to research in this area soon. My brain scan did show change in white matter - now whether I had it before tx or after - I'll never know...BUT the only way doctors will know if the interferon is causing brain abnormalities (or if the abnormalities are there already from the HCV) is to INCLUDE a brain MRI as part of the HCV exam. Because really, we have a deadly disease that affects all of our organs and all we get for an exam prior to tx is a few pushes on our stomach and some blood tests - maybe an eye exam. Since we DO KNOW this disease affects our entire body/brain, there needs to be more tests prior and post tx - IMO.

I found this interesting and wanted to pass it on to those who may also find it interesting.


http://intl-msj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/13/9/1100

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in the general population and may coincide with disease in the central and peripheral nervous system. Interferon- (IFN-) is used as treatment for HCV infection. The therapeutic benefit is assumed to result from activation of natural killer cells and CD8+ T cells. Despite its beneficial effects, it has been associated with a number of autoimmune disorders, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and multiple sclerosis. Several clinical reports including magnetic resonance imaging exist, but neuropathological confirmation of MS associated with IFN- therapy and HCV infection is lacking. We report a case of a female patient with chronic HCV infection who developed `acute MS'-like demyelinating disease after IFN- administration, with extensive lesions throughout brain and thoracic spinal cord. The patient died after a disease duration of 6 months. Brain autopsy revealed Baló-like demyelinating plaques with positive HCV sequences within florid lesions. The development of fulminant demyelinating disease after administration of IFN- suggests that autoimmune mechanisms such as T cell mediated tissue damage might be initiated or aggravated by IFN- therapy. Additionally, the presence of HCV RNA within the demyelinated lesion indicates a possible role in triggering or propagating disease. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 1100—1106. http://msj.sagepub.com


Key Words: CD8+ T cells • concentric sclerosis (Baló) • hepatitis C virus • interferon- • multiple sclerosis (MS)

[Myown]

harry, this is the thread I was refering to. For others that are wondering why I flagged Harry, you can read his post on the other side.

Harry you may want to print out the study that I posted and bring it to your doctors. You may also want to talk to cjacks

[Myown]

just read something and I wanted to pop this back up to the top for that reason

[cjacks]

njrpo842,

I'm sorry you've gotten this dx.  I can't tell you whether or not to treat.   When I got sick , I was very disabled.  For the first two yrs. I was in bed, only getting up for the bathroom or dr. I slowly got to were I could move around , in the house a little .

So when a dx. was made in 90  of course I was thrilled with any tx. I was young-ish ( forty) and very ill.   Didn't know I should weigh anything . I only wanted to be better and this is what dr. said to,( Columbia Presbyterian, N.Y.)  The first tx. was interferon, without success.

  It took nine more yrs of not being well to find ITF/ Reba combo .  I was forty -nine and wanted to try to have some kind of life( Which had been on hold since I was thirty six). So I did tx again . ( with all the side effects - there are meds now for side efects , In the olden days   :)     we were not offered anything other than OTC , I had no idea I could ASK for them,  sooo naive)  

I would do it again , even knowing that I may develope MS down the road , ( the MS may have been there anyway )   I needed to try ...    

Now finally getting to my point..  I don't know your history    but if I were sixty-five and not feeling too bad, I'd go the herbal route .  Go to Duke and tell the docs your concerns , I think the medical profession is coming around to the possibility of a more conservative approach to tx.  and holistics.     PLEASE stop smoking  , that would so improve your health greatly

I hope I helped ..  I did not mean to scare any one away from tx.   I get result back from LP soon , will have more answers for myself .If you want to PM that would be fine , love to hear what's up

MO    Thank you so much for making me feel comfortable here ..  I would absoluely love to be in touch while you do your tx  .

Take care           Jo

[merryBe]

more I read the more apparent mandatory testing should be.
yes, a whole body MRI and IFG-1 should be standard before tx if HCV is found, not just a biopsy.

we call the other disease like this ne "Accquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) for a reason.

the reason is equally valid for HCV.
It is actually a disservice to call it this. It is a virus that breaks down multiple systems, as does the tx.
It effects the immune system respnses and can therefore manifest as myriad other disease. Once we dicover the root disease, we may be able to halt the progression of the other damages being done, but this will depend upon whether we get good diagnosis and tx of our immune systems and endocrine systems as well both prior and post HCV tx.  That includes making sure the tx does not permanently comprmises our  lymph or endocrine systems. there  are ways t halt and reverse demylination caught in time....much of this is dependant on restoring underlying health and or eradiacation of what has begun the cycle of degeneration.

[njrpo842]

I hope you are doing well.
I am new at the forum and been reading your postings, it kind of freak me out a little since I was diagnosed with HVC and told by my Dr. to start treatment as soon as possible. He refered me to Duke( since I live in N.C.) I am 65 years old, diabetic and hypertensive, to top it off I smoke and very nervous person, I am very afraid of the so called side effects and what I have read here today, I am seriously considering to try some herbal or holistic remedies and pray for the best, I have heard a lot about Maximum Milk Thistle. What do you think?  Will appreciate your coment.

[Myown]

Alot of times these scans can freak us out until the doctor reads them and shrugs and says "that's nothing."  That happened to me when I saw "reactive Lymph nodes" on mine and the doctor in Boston said don't worry about it. I hope he's right though :)
But I guess I did stop worrying about it cause I forgot about it until I just mentioned it to you. Now because I reminded myself, I will think about my "reactive lymph nodes" the rest of the day. lol