Wegener's Granulomatosis an autoimmune disease

by Rachel
(Cumming, GA)

I was diagnosed with Wegener's Granulomatosis in 1994 when I was 13. My symptoms (joint pain, anemia, vasculitis, respiratory/lung problems, sinus issues) began the year I began puberty. I have been on and off of prednisone, Bactrim, Methotrexate for a while, and Imuran for the last 9 years (never did take cytoxan.) I want to get off these meds!

So after all these years I am realizing maybe there is a link with the timing of the disease. I have been fortunate to have 2 healthy boys since then and realized my health was at it's best (off medicines) while I was pregnant with my first. (Extra progesterone in my system possibly?)

After lots of research, I am changing my diet/environment to avoid all xenoestrogens as possible, figuring I may have an estrogen dominance or low progesterone or both. In the mean time I had an ASYRA test done and discovered that I have lots of allergies to foods although I have never had a severe outward reaction.

I am trying to decide which natural progesterone cream will be the best for me. My concern is after doing the Asyra test my results show I have a (weakened/yellow) sensitivity to macadamia nuts. Would this mean that I should avoid Natpro specifically since one of the ingredients is organic macadamia oil?

I appreciate your time!!

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Wegener's Granulomatosis an autoimmune disease

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Jul 09, 2010
 Wegener's Granulomatosis an autoimmune disease
by: Wray

Hi Rachel Well I've spent time searching google scholar for papers relating to WG and progesterone, but it's obvious that it's of little interest. I'm not convinced by the term 'autoimmune disease' either. As it's predominantly a female problem, there has to be a hormonal connection. Many of them resolve during pregnancy when progesterone is high, but relapse is high after birth, makes one wonder! As you've discovered, yours started in puberty, a time of huge hormonal changes, and became better during pregnancy. Oestrogen is a pro-inflammatory hormone, it stimulates MMP's, these are enzymes which break down protein and are implicated in all autoimmune diseases, so incidentally is oestrogen, which is always high, progesterone is always low. Progesterone is an anti-inflammatory hormone, it activates the Th2 cytokine immune system, which raises anti-inflammatory substances like IL10 etc. Vitamin D is low in autoimmune diseases, a low level of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. Please consider having a vitamin D test done. Progesterone is excellent for asthma and respiratory problems, please see here and and here. This is speculation on my part, but vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels, progesterone stimulates nitric oxide production. NO is vital for blood vessel health, it's precursor is the amino acid arginine. Arginine itself is a powerful antioxidant, unless you suffer from herpes, please consider taking arginine. One study I've found showed there was decreased NO production by endothelial cells in renal tissue in WG, please see here. Another study showed NO excretion rate in nasally sampled gas was significantly reduced in patients with active WG, please see here. I'm sure I could find more! Finally please see our web page on Inflammation. As for the mac oil, often the allergy is to the protein in nuts, rather than the oil per se. Although of course there will always be some molecules of protein in the oil. I can only suggest you try to find some mac oil in a health shop and test your reaction first, certainly cheaper! We are changing in August to an extract of coconut oil called caprylic/capric triglycerides, also with Ecocert certification. I hope this doesn't cause problems too. Take care Wray

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