Helminthic therapy and giant cell arteritis

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Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, Horton's disease or Cranial arteritis, is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of large blood vessels.

The scientific evidence

The following papers all concern aspects of the effects on GCA of helminths and their products.

• Systemic vasculitis with lymphocytic temporal arteritis and Toxocara canis infection

• The therapeutic potential of tuftsin-phosphorylcholine in giant cell arteritis

• Helminth-Related Tuftsin-Phosphorylcholine Compound and its Interplay with Autoimmune Diseases -- PDF

• Tuftsin phosphorylcholine-a novel compound harnessing helminths to fight autoimmunity

• Helminth derivative tuftsin-phopshorylcholine to treat autoimmunity -- Full text

The anecdotal evidence

My mom, who is 81, came down with giant cell arteritis and they had her on prednisone and biologic infusions. I’ve been providing her with doses of about 5 NA every 12 weeks for about a year now, and it appears that helminthic therapy is having a positive effect on her health and autoimmune condition because she has had no more flare ups of the arteritis. She is completely off the prednisone (she was on a high dose of 60mg a day), and her doctor is getting close to stopping the biologic infusions. (Edited from posts in this thread.)

The reintroduction to the digestive tract of a controlled number of specially domesticated, mutualistic helminths (intestinal worms) in the form of microscopic eggs or larvae to reconstitute a depleted biome to treat or prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immune-related disorders, including allergy.

An intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. Wikipedia:Helminths

the human hookworm, Necator americanus

The reintroduction to the digestive tract of a controlled number of specially domesticated, mutualistic helminths (intestinal worms) in the form of microscopic eggs or larvae to reconstitute a depleted biome to treat or prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immune-related disorders, including allergy.

a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.