Elevated Cytokines and CRPS
 

In the last couple years, I have had elevated cytokine levels reported with my annual physical blood work. Has anyone else had the same result?

Forgive me, I do not know what type of cytokines are elevated particularly. I am inclined to think mine are the pro inflammatory kind since my Internist has linked the elevated results to my CRPS.

I was reading some information on the Web mrsD recommended for me about how low magnesium levels and possible ill affects can mimic some of my ailments. Somehow, as the Internet does, I got sucked in and sidetracked. I ran across a document: Neuroimmunologic approaches to the understanding and potential treatment of CRPS By Donald C. Manning, MD, PhD 2005[?] Web http://rsds.org/3/education/manning_pp_06.htm 4/10/2013

It was far over my head, but a few things grabbed my attention:

• Cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid levels can be elevated in CRPS patients.
• These cytokines can be the cause of spread of CRPS beyond the original region effected.
• Targeting these cytokines is a new approach to pain therapy.
• Among the medications suggested are:
  • Anakinra - used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Glucocorticoids - used to treat adrenal insufficiency, various allergic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders, transplant rejection, and asthma.
  • Thalidomide - used as a anti-nausea and sedative drug. Use is controversial.
  • Lenalidomide - used to treat multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Just wondering if anybody else has read the article; and if anyone else has elevated cytokines and explored these drug therapies. Would be interested in your thoughts please.

Cytokines are released when there is a signal of tissue damage from an area. They do various things, depending on which kind. They are categorized into PGE1 (mostly helpful), PGE2 (inflammatory and vasodilation), and PGE3 which are less understood.

With diet, by increasing Omega-3 fatty acids, like from flax (alpha linolenic acid), one can favor PGE1's. The PGE2's, are mixed inflammatory types, and come from Omega-6 oils, like sunflower, peanut, etc. These when eaten in a ratio higher than the Omega-3 ALA, will skew inflammation to the PGE2 production.

The other Omega-3's, from fish oil/krill oil, intercede at the PGE2 production of inflammatory cytokines also, and have an anti-inflammatory effect. So diet can be very helpful in reducing inflammation.

Aspirin, NSAIDs and glucocorticoids (steroids) also intercede at PGE2 production. Eating too much sugar and simple carbs, will elevate insulin and this has an inflammatory effect too.

So it is possible with diet to moderate this system and keep inflammation down. The ratio of Omega-3 to 6 should be no more that 1:5, and in the US it has been measured as high as 1:26!

The cytokine system evolved to help with injury and healing. But it can get out of whack if the essential fatty acid ALA is not provided enough.

So that is a starting point, for anyone with an illness that is inflammatory. People with too high a level of PGE2's also tend to have GERD/heartburn, asthma, arthritis, etc.

This link give nutritional data and also an inflammatory index for each food you search:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/...nd-oils/9129/2
This shows one type of canola oil.
Gives the Omega-3 value, is mildly anti-inflammatory, etc.
There are many smart foods available now to provide Omega-3s...peanut butter, butter substitute spreads by Smart Balance, some eggs, some mayo, and we even get at Costco chicken nuggets from Canada made with Omega-3 Canola. You can take flax oil capsules, or grind up fresh flax seeds for smoothies, or to sprinkle on cereal. Some cereals have flax now added.

Diet is very important therefore for reducing inflammation.

This is my information thread on EFAs...

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6092

It goes into more detail.

If you find any broken/expired links, please tell me and I'll try to fix. The thread is quite old by now. ;)