Monday's House episode

I did see that, and it made me wonder....but I didn't grow up in a "too clean" environment. I played in the dirt all day! I think they kinda twisted things to sound smart or something.

And they started the patient on methylprednisone and then also gave him helminth therapy. Helminth therapy while available today, is not really provided by most hospitals and doctors, because of a lack of study I guess. And the guy also had a lot of the extra intestinal manifestations of crohn's - uveitis, blocked bile ducts because of possible PSC. And strangely, he was peeing blood - I didn't recall that being a symptom of crohn's.

They found worms in his liver and dewormed him, and he got worse. . . and they theorized that the worms were keeping the crohn's in check. But I thought the worms need to be in the intestine . . . maybe it doesn't matter where the worms are . . .

But it was good to see a disease like crohn's in mainstream TV. More awareness is probably a good thing. I do think they got a few things wrong and used the worms for their shock effect I guess. But still, way more correct than like ER.

PV

It was discussed that very night on the UC forum...the guy actually had worms when he went into the hospital, they got rid of his worms and he got really sick so they gave him worms again....the worms he went into the hospital with were apparently keeping his crohn's activity at bay but oddly enough not his extraintestinal manifestations.

That is one of the theories out there about CD, overly clean environment...but House made a remark about how the guy should have ate dirt when he was a kid (like that would have kept him from getting CD)...I enjoyed more than my fair share of mud-pies when I was a kid considering I had a few older sisters that made sure of it LOL...and it didn't stop me from getting CD.

The worms do have to be in the intestines to be of benefit and they are in a capsul, not swimming loosely in a glass of water when they are administered, that's just cruel and unusual punishment (but then so is having CD).

:)

aoccc said...
Made it look way too easy.

Makes you wonder about all of the other diseases "diagnosed" on these shows. I feel like it's a double-edged sword. It's good because it spreads awareness, but detrimental because it makes it seem like it's so easy to overcome.

They actually have docs involved with writing the medical parts of the show to ensure accuracy...just a little tid-bit I learned between commercials during House.

:)

I just watched the episode and think they were really reaching to call it extraintestinal Crohn's. I've never heard of anybody having CD solely outside of the intestines.

I also didn't have a clean childhood. We played outside all the time, made mud pies, and even ate edible plants in scouts.

But on the plus side, Chronnies should now be in demand as adult film stars or at least thought as being able to perform as such, no? :)

I think you guys are wrong about the worms having to be in the intestines. The worm can really be anywhere because the mechanism is diverting the t cell pathway towards the Th2 line (anti-parasite/allergy) and away from the Th1 line (antibacterial/viral; most predominant in Crohn's). Worms would also induce more Tr1 differentiation, which would release more IL-10 and TGF-B to downregulate both Th1 and Th2. The worms would just need to be accessible by the immune system.

Great now friends and family will all have the cure for me! We'll be hearing about this for months just you wait and see! Oh Rob I was watching House and.......Snorrrrre