Hi folks,
A member of my family has an immune system problem and is getting steadily
worse. The doctors so far have no remedy aside from frequent plasma
transfusions, which are becoming more frequent.
What appears to be happening is that the immune system is able to generate
an antibody response, but is unable to stop it once the foreign bodies
have been taken care of. The protein level in the blood rises, accompanied
by severe bouts of weakness. An ordinarly strong man in his early 50's
can do nothing but crawl when the symptoms get bad. A plasma transfusion
plus a dose of albumin relieves the symptoms, but this remedy doesn't
seem to be working anymore. In fact, the hospital has ran out of the
necessary drugs and (for the time being) he cannot get enough treatment.
The doctors say that have not encountered someone with this problem before.
I assume they have scoured the literature and the journals.
But if there is someone else with this problem, it would be great for
his doctors to know about it. Please send me email if anybody can help.
Thanks.
John
jstron1 at umbc.edu
