Pratiques et résultats de l'auto-traitement avec des helminthes basés sur les observations des médecins

Aperçu: G.M.

L'utilisation réussie d'helminthes en tant qu'agents thérapeutiques pour résoudre la maladie inflammatoire a été rapportée pour la première fois il y a 40 ans. Ces organismes pourraient traiter efficacement un large éventail de maladies inflammatoires, y compris des allergies, des troubles auto-immuns et des troubles neuropsychiatriques associés à l'inflammation. Cinq médecins surveillant plus de 700 patients auto-traitants ont été interviewés.

Environ 57% des patients auto-traitants observés par les médecins de l'étude avaient un autisme. Les médecins ont rapporté que la majorité leurs patients avec un diagnostic de TSA et des co-morbidités associées à l'inflammation ont répondu favorablement à la thérapie avec l'un ou l'autre des deux organismes les plus populaires actuellement utilisés par les auto-traitements, Hymenolepis diminuta et Trichuris suis. Cependant, environ 1% des patients pédiatriques ont souffert de douleurs gastro-intestinales sévères avec l'utilisation de H. diminuta, bien que les symptômes aient été résolus avec un médicament anti-helminthique. 

L'exposition aux helminthes n'a apparemment pas affecté la compréhension réduite des situations sociales qui est la marque distinctive de l'autisme. 

J Helminthol. 2017 May;91(3):267-277. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X16000316. Epub 2016 May 31.

Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations

Liu J¹, Morey RA², Wilson JK³, Parker W¹.

Author information

1

Department of Surgery,Duke University Medical Center,Durham, NC 27710,USA.

2

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,Duke University Medical Center,Durham, NC 27710,USA.

3

Department of Sociology,University of Central Arkansas,Conway, AR, 72035,USA.

Abstract

The successful use of helminths as therapeutic agents to resolve inflammatory disease was first recorded 40 years ago. Subsequent work in animal models and in humans has demonstrated that the organisms might effectively treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including allergies, autoimmune disorders and inflammation-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. However, available information regarding the therapeutic uses and effects of helminths in humans is limited. This study probes the practices and experiences of individuals 'self-treating' with helminths through the eyes of their physicians. Five physicians monitoring more than 700 self-treating patients were interviewed. The results strongly support previous indications that helminth therapy can effectively treat a wide range of allergies, autoimmune conditions and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depression and anxiety disorders. Approximately 57% of the self-treating patients observed by physicians in the study had autism. Physicians reported that the majority of patients with autism and inflammation-associated co-morbidities responded favourably to therapy with either of the two most popular organisms currently used by self-treaters, Hymenolepis diminuta and Trichuris suis. However, approximately 1% of paediatric patients experienced severe gastrointestinal pains with the use of H. diminuta, although the symptoms were resolved with an anti-helminthic drug. Further, exposure to helminths apparently did not affect the impaired comprehension of social situations that is the hallmark of autism. These observations point toward potential starting points for clinical trials, and provide further support for the importance of such trials and for concerted efforts aimed at probing the potential of helminths, and perhaps other biologicals, for therapeutic use.

PMID: 27240605

DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X16000316