Lupus & Aspergers ?

[the hat]

i also possibly have lupus,i also have a son who has aspergers.i read an article the other day about possibility of lupus and aspergers having some connection.anybody read it?

[peonyprincess]

I have never read it, not to say that there isn't something there. It seems that the more they investigate and research, the more they find. I am not all that familiar with Aspergers. I know a little about it as my cousins son has it. I hope for your sake that you do not have Lupus, even though that might answer alot of your questions that you may have about your own health. What problems are you having that you are questioning Lupus? I know that you have your hands full already. Keep us posted.


Nancy

[evie-f]

I have also read an article (but can't remember where - it was a few years ago) that said that if you had any AI condition, you were statistically more likely to have a child with an autistic spectrum disorder (inc Asperger's).

I too have a son with Asperger's, and know quite a few other parents from the autistic community who have lupus or another AI condition, so anecdotently(sp) I'd say there could be something there.

There is also some serious debate about the link between the immune system and autism generally - people/children with ASDs tend have more allergies and food/drug intolerances, and seem to either never get ill or always be ill. I have been involved with this debate elsewhere, and know some professionals involved with ASDs who think there is a connection. One of the questions is does autism cause an unusual immune system, or is an unusual immune system one of the causes of autism? It maybe that an "AI gene" can be a trigger in some cases. I know this debate is a bit off topic, but I am interested in it personally because there is a history of both AI problems and ASDs in my extended family.

I hope this post doesn't alarm anyone. I can't quote any definate research (although I know there has been some), so I need to say this is only my own experience and viewpoint.

Eve x

[Raglet]

hi there

personally I have not heard of a connection between lupus and aspergers. My lupus comes via my father, whereas my daughters asperger's comes via HER father, so I don't think there is any connection with us as there is no autoimmune disease in her dad's family, just lots of autistic spectrum disorders

cheers

raglet

[mommygiraffe]

I have heard this as well. There especially is something written about this in a book called something like Everthing You Need to Know about Autoimmune Diseases That Your Doctors Don't want you to Know. I loaned the bookto my cousin, whose daugther has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis or I'd know the exact title.It is a book that strongly advocates chelation therapy, and emphasizes the enviormental and chemical things he says cause autoimmune diseases, so I take what he says with a whole shaker full of salt. I am very, very sure I have Asperger's as well. But I have read this other places, too. In fact, I just got an email from someone on the autism message board that wondered about this very connection. Weird.

[Lily]

Hi Mommygiraffe,

Everthing You Need to Know about Autoimmune Diseases That Your Doctors Don't want you to Know

Was the book "What your doctor wont tell you about autoimmune diseases" by a certain Stephen Edelson?

If so I wouldnt take too much notice of the book :wink2: :lol:

Here's the low down and dirty on 'Dr' (and I use the term lightly!) Edelson:

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/edelson.html

love
Lily

[peonyprincess]

Lily,

What a very enlightening site. I marked it to my favorites so that I can refer to it whenever needed. I have yet to encounter some of the articles, but I have heard of others. I think that by posting the web site, you gave us some valuable information!!


Thanks,
Nancy

[shelly21]

wow!! i am totally freaked out! as a school teacher, i have encountered aspergers on a number of occasions. i just dont seem to understand how lupus and this can be related! i am just so freaked out by this thread. there is another thing to ask the rheumy. how are they connected? is there proper research done? i have never, in any special needs book, come across this fact! or is it a fact?

i am not convinced....

take care

Shelly

[Clare.T]

This is one study about a possible connection between 'PDDs' and familial autoimmune diseases. As far as I know, if there is a genetic link, it's not known what it might be

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/5/e420

There are lots of unproven theories to account for all malfunctions,
" dis-ease", not just autoimmune illnesses.
You can take your pick of the multititude of therapies offered as 'cure alls' but it makes sense to be as well informed a consumer of health care as possible, certainly no less than any other commodity.

Reading the account of the court case against Edelson, it is staggering how much uncritical faith the child's parents had in this man, even when his behaviour and treatment of them was clearly unethical in any profession.

There are a lot of totally unscrupulous people out there only to keen to make a fast buck from desperate people

Cheers
Clare

[mommygiraffe]

I am not surprised at all that that doctor would be on a site like that. The whole book seemed a little off. I'm sorry I brought the book up.