Multiple Drug Trials Going On Relating To Celiac

[CGally81 1]

According to http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healt...iac-trials.html , multiple drug trials are going on regarding celiac disease. I don't have the celiac genes, so I likely have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, but I have the same symptoms and am still messed up by gluten wherever I encounter it, so I'm hoping that some of this stuff treats gluten intolerance as well.

Anyway, they have two drugs designed to treat the disease, and a trial involving hookworm infection. I'd gladly get myself infected with hookworm... too bad I don't live in Australia and am therefore not eligible.

Here's what they got:

RECRUITING: Phase IIb Study to Study the Efficacy of AT1001 to Treat Celiac Disease

Purpose: To see if multiple doses of the experimental drug AT1001 prevent changes in the intestines during a six-week gluten challenge.

Eligibility: Adults ages 18 to 72 who have been on a gluten-free diet for at least six months.

Sponsor: Alba Therapeutics.

RECRUITING: Can a Very High Result From a Screening Test for Celiac Disease be Used to Diagnose Celiac Disease?

Purpose: To determine if the TTG screening test is as accurate as an endoscopy for diagnosing celiac disease

Eligibility: Patients ages 2 months to 18 years who are undergoing an upper G.I. endoscopy.

Sponsor: University of British Columbia.

RECRUITING: Inoculating Celiac Disease Patients With the Human Hookworm Necator Americanus: Evaluating Immunity and Gluten Sensitivity

Purpose: To determine if a human hookworm may prove useful in the management of celiac disease.

Eligibility: Adults who have celiac disease.

Sponsor: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.

RECRUITING: Phase II Study of CCX282-B in Patients With Celiac Disease

Purpose: To determine if CCX282-B prevents gluten intolerance in patients with celiac disease.

Eligibility: Adults ages 18 to 75 who have been on a gluten-free diet for at least two years.

Sponsor: ChemoCentryx.

Unfortuantely, this doesn't seem to help those of us who are non-celiac but affected by gluten. I really hope awareness of that increases, or there's crossover in effects of some of these drugs.

[Gemini 871]

I find it mind boggling that anyone would infect themselves with hook worm in an attempt to be able to eat gluten again!

That's just gross.......

[modiddly16 50]

agreed....bread and pizza, as delicious as they are......I wouldn't swallow a hookwork to consume them again. ever.

[CGally81 1]

agreed....bread and pizza, as delicious as they are......I wouldn't swallow a hookwork to consume them again. ever.

I would gladly be infected with hookworm if it means not having to worry about cross contamination for the rest of my life (or at least the next few years, as long as the hookworm stays alive).

[WW340 6]

Actually, the hook worms are being studied as a solution to a variety of autoimmune diseases. For those of us that suffer from a variety of autoimmune effects, the hook worm may very well be a real godsend.

I might not consider it just to be able to eat gluten, but I sure would consider it to get control of my body again.

[CGally81 1]

Actually, the hook worms are being studied as a solution to a variety of autoimmune diseases. For those of us that suffer from a variety of autoimmune effects, the hook worm may very well be a real godsend.

I might not consider it just to be able to eat gluten, but I sure would consider it to get control of my body again.

You know more on this subject than I do. If they can help solve many people's problems, that would be just awesome. What do you know about this? How far along are the studies, and what has been found?

I for one would love to have it to guard against any additional problems Celiac could cause. As someone with Asperger's, I wouldn't go rush to eat gluten (though there are enzymes for that aimed at autistics/Asperger's people that are said to be super effective), but like you, I would love to "get control of my body again", as you put it so well.

[WW340 6]

You know more on this subject than I do. If they can help solve many people's problems, that would be just awesome. What do you know about this? How far along are the studies, and what has been found?

I for one would love to have it to guard against any additional problems Celiac could cause. As someone with Asperger's, I wouldn't go rush to eat gluten (though there are enzymes for that aimed at autistics/Asperger's people that are said to be super effective), but like you, I would love to "get control of my body again", as you put it so well.

Actually, I don't know a lot. I have just read some articles online. Here are a few articles you can check out. They are doing studies with hookworms for celiac disease, allergies and asthma, MS, and chron's disease. These are just a few articles that I found.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/09/2...st.mite.allergy

hookworms study for treatment of MS

http://research.nottingham.ac.uk/Newsrevie...lay.aspx?id=270hookworm studies in celiac disease

[CGally81 1]

Actually, I don't know a lot. I have just read some articles online. Here are a few articles you can check out. They are doing studies with hookworms for celiac disease, allergies and asthma, MS, and chron's disease. These are just a few articles that I found.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/09/2...st.mite.allergy

hookworms study for treatment of MS

http://research.nottingham.ac.uk/Newsrevie...lay.aspx?id=270hookworm studies in celiac disease

I found that there are places online that sell hookworms you can use on yourself. I sent an inquiry to one. If there's a good chance of this working, I may well shell out the thousands of dollars it costs (after all, my credit union account exists for emergencies, and doesn't health count as an emergency?), and go get myself infected.

http://autoimmunetherapies.com/ is one such place. I'm nervous about this not working... though I'll only spend my money if I have good reason to think it would.

[Jestgar 716]

:blink:

I'd take a vacation to somewhere with endemic hookworm before I'd send money to some unknown internet site.

[Gemini 871]

Actually, the hook worms are being studied as a solution to a variety of autoimmune diseases. For those of us that suffer from a variety of autoimmune effects, the hook worm may very well be a real godsend.

I might not consider it just to be able to eat gluten, but I sure would consider it to get control of my body again.

I have a total of 4 autoimmune diseases and have managed to make a great recovery without using any old worm! It is possible but it may take time. I was also an older, diagnosed Celiac so if I can do it, anyone can. It's not terribly difficult to avoid CC and the longer you go, the better at it you will become.

Are there still times when taking a gluten hit will happen? Absolutely, but you will get better within a short amount of time and life goes on. That may sound simplistic but I take this disease in stride and do my best so it won't control my life. So far, with some effort, it's working and I am extremely sensitive too. You can live a pretty normal life with Celiac, without infecting yourself with a worm in the hopes you may be able to sustain small hits without worry. I can't imagine use of a hookworm wouldn't come with it's own set of drawbacks.

[WW340 6]

I have a total of 4 autoimmune diseases and have managed to make a great recovery without using any old worm! It is possible but it may take time. I was also an older, diagnosed Celiac so if I can do it, anyone can. It's not terribly difficult to avoid CC and the longer you go, the better at it you will become.

Are there still times when taking a gluten hit will happen? Absolutely, but you will get better within a short amount of time and life goes on. That may sound simplistic but I take this disease in stride and do my best so it won't control my life. So far, with some effort, it's working and I am extremely sensitive too. You can live a pretty normal life with Celiac, without infecting yourself with a worm in the hopes you may be able to sustain small hits without worry. I can't imagine use of a hookworm wouldn't come with it's own set of drawbacks.

You would need to read about the studies, and not just assume that it is all about eating gluten. I could care less about eating gluten ever again in my life. I have been gluten free for almost 3 years now without a problem. I rarely eat out, and can cook anything I desire to eat gluten free.

In spite of eating gluten free, I am being assaulted by some unknown inflammatory process that even the doctors cannot diagnose, but are still trying.

If you read any of the articles submitted, you would see that it is believed that the hookworms would keep the immune system busy attacking the worms, rather than attacking the host body.

I am glad that going gluten free has solved all of your problems, for me, it has solved some, but I have some serious sequelae that will improve with time, but I have new problems cropping up over the past 3 years.

[Gemini 871]

You would need to read about the studies, and not just assume that it is all about eating gluten. I could care less about eating gluten ever again in my life. I have been gluten free for almost 3 years now without a problem. I rarely eat out, and can cook anything I desire to eat gluten free.

There is the distinct possibility that you have other intolerances that are causing the problems you describe. I did and when I eliminated those, my inflammation and problems improved yet again. You are correct, it's not all about eating gluten. You have to look at all the other allergens also and make sure their are no problems with those.

In spite of eating gluten free, I am being assaulted by some unknown inflammatory process that even the doctors cannot diagnose, but are still trying.

Sometimes, when you trigger for other autoimmune problems, doctors do not do a good job of figuring it out. There is so much overlap with symptoms, thye have a hard time diagnosing which one it may be. You may also have to accept that not all people get remarkably better, even with strict adherence to the gluten-free diet. When the autoimmune chain triggers, it stays active in some people and calms down with others. That's usually the point where you have to consider the meds they offer and that's a hard choice to make.

If you read any of the articles submitted, you would see that it is believed that the hookworms would keep the immune system busy attacking the worms, rather than attacking the host body.

I understand their theory on hookworms but I still would be not willing to infect myself with a parasite that may cause more long term damage to your intestinal tract down the road. It can cause all the same problems of undiagnosed Celiac Disease, including serious anemia, so it seems many could be back to square one. Better to calm the immune system down than try to keep it distracted with a parasite.

I guess for those who would consider infecting themselves should be commended for being so brave! I just couldn't do it so it's good I have no desire/need to!

[CGally81 1]

I understand their theory on hookworms but I still would be not willing to infect myself with a parasite that may cause more long term damage to your intestinal tract down the road. It can cause all the same problems of undiagnosed Celiac Disease, including serious anemia, so it seems many could be back to square one. Better to calm the immune system down than try to keep it distracted with a parasite.

I guess for those who would consider infecting themselves should be commended for being so brave! I just couldn't do it so it's good I have no desire/need to!

I say, give me that hookworm. It's said to not cause those problems at all. It just lives peacably, causing no damage (occasionally it sucks some blood, but you have more than enough and it won't affect you), and modifies the immune system to not attack gluten. That's it.

[ciavyn 41]

This is truly fascinating, but it's naive to think that there are no side effects to having a parasite living inside you. Our evolving cultural habits have changed the makeup of our bodies and have been both a blessing and a curse as new diseases develop and more intense strains attack, forcing us to use even stronger, and often damaging medicines to combat them. We've been waging war against parasites in our bodies for many years. To reintroduce them, and think that it will be a symbiotic harmony is wishful thinking. However, if studies can show the long-term effects of such a treatment, it definitely offers a ray of hope.