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The Promise of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy

New LDN book by
Elaine Moore and
SammyJo Wilkinson


Have I missed anything? Let me know!

Low Dose Naltrexone Clinical Trials

Medical professionals and patients should rest assured there is now significant research into LDN occurring around the globe.

Pilot trial of low dose naltrexone and quality of life in MS
   Bruce A.C. Cree *, Elena Kornyeyeva, Douglas S. Goodin
   University of California, San Francisco. Patient funded trial completed 2008.
   Published in Annals of Neurology 2010.
   Abstract     Full Text Pre-Publication
 
 Presented at AAN 2008, and MS World Congress 2008.

   Left: PES=pain effects scale   Right: MHI=mental health inventory

                      -----------------------------
Low-dose Naltrexone as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
   
Dr Tom Gihooly on the state of LDN research.
 
   British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, Nov 2009 v5 n11  

Four LDN Studies Presented at the 2008 MS World Congress Meeting  
 
9/22/08 Elaine Moore reports on the important MS/LDN studies at Penn State
  and University of California.

Low Dose Naltrexone: Hope for PPMS  
 
9/18/08 Maija Haavisto reports on the Italian human trial 6 month report.
  A pilot trial of low-dose naltrexone in primary progressive multiple sclerosis
 
First LDN/MS trial data to be published. J. Mult. Scler. Sept 08

  Pilot multi-center study of low dose naltrexone in primary progressive
    multiple sclerosis University of Milan
.
  Results presented at the American Academy of Neurology; ECTRIMS.

Scottish doctor is raising money to fund LDN drug trial for MS
  At the 2008 LDN conference, Dr. Gihooly reported this trial is nearing launch.

Jan 2008: National MS Society clinical Update on LDN 
  Links to the research mentioned are available above.

Evers Multiple Sclerosis Clinic
  The first trial of LDN for Multiple Sclerosis. 2004, Germany.  



Jan 2008: Low Dose Naltrexone for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia   
  Stanford Medical Center. Recruiting patients that live near Bay Area.

The Mali HIV+ AIDS LDN Initiative - Dr. Jaquelyn McCandless 

Penn State
  Successful Trial of Low Dose Naltrexone for Crohn's Disease
  2008 Phase II (trial website) and Pediatric Crohn's (trial website)

Met-enkephalin therapy for autoimmune diseases: Selective immunomodulation and extention of steroid therapy
  This human study was done in Croatia, 1997, and found positive effects across multiple autoimmune conditions, such as "significant reduction in the number and severity of relapses".  Met-enkephalin is the beta-endorphin released by LDN, which may play a role in returning the immune system to homeostasis.


Publications & articles related to LDN Therapy

Opioid growth factor suppresses expression of experimental
    autoimmune encephalomyelitis
.
   Zagon IS, Rahn KA, Bonneau RH, Turel AP, McLaughlin PJ.
   Brain Res. 2010 Jan 15;1310:154-61.
  
Funded by the National MS Society.

Dr Zagon at Penn State has a long research history with "opiod growth factor"
   (invoked via LDN), and human trials for Crohn's Disease and
   Pancreatic Cancer

Glutamate Excess in Multiple Sclerosis Variants: Why LDN Offers Benefits      11/3/08 Elaine Moore reports on new research from Mayo Clinic that
   supports Dr. Agrawal's 2005 LDN/MS hypothesis (see below).

Low dose naltrexone therapy in multiple sclerosis 
  Medical Hypotheses, 2005;64(4):721-4, Y.P. Agrawal
   
Abstract           Full-PDF

The Use of LDN for MS, Crohn's, and Other Autoimmune Diseases
  by Elaine Moore, who has published extensively on autoimmunity.

A Case of Remission from Crohn's Disease with LDN.
   Reported
by Jeffrey Dach, MD

Possible importance of antibiotics and naltrexone in
    neurodegenerative disease
(email for copy of article)

  European Journal of Neurology 2005, 12: 1, Y.P. Agrawal

Jan 2005: Interview with LDN researcher Dr. Agrawal (PDF)
  Interviewed by Robert Lester, published by the Boston Cure Project

Beta endorphin concentrations in PBMC of patients with different clinical
    phenotypes of multiple sclerosis.

  Dr Gironi's research found lowered endorphins in MS patients. LDN raises
    endorphins, our own endogenous opiates, which may have a modulating
    effect on the immune system (see below).

How LDN helps fight Lyme Ken Singleton, M.D.

Predictors of Interferon Non-Response
  If you are trying to decide whether to continue Interferons or switch to LDN


Related  Research:

Imiquimod, An Immune Response Modifier, Is Dependent On
    The OGF-OGFr Signaling Pathway
- MedicalNewsToday.com 7/27/08
  Exp Biol Med, Aug 2008 Abstract

The role of glutamate transporters in neurodegenerative diseases and
    potential opportunities for intervention.

  Neurochem Int. 2007 Apr 19, Sheldon AL, Robinson MB. 

A team including JS Hong at the National Institutes of Health has been researching the neuroprotective effects other compounds similar to Naltrexone:

Role of Microglia in Inflammation-Mediated Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms and Strategies for Therapeutic Intervention

Role of nitric oxide in inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration 


Inhibition by naloxone stereoisomers of beta-amyloid peptide (1-42)-induced superoxide production in microglia and degeneration of cortical and mesencephalic neurons

Dextromethorphan Protects Dopaminergic Neurons against Inflammation-Mediated Degeneration through Inhibition of Microglial Activation

Is MS an Autoimmune Disease?
Many of the FDA approved treatments for MS are immune suppressants, aimed at down-regulating what is thought to be an overactive immune system that is attacking the myelin sheath. It is speculated that LDN works by placing the immune system back into normal mode, or homeostasis. While this may be at odds with the autoimmune theory, recent research is calling into question the traditional definition of MS.

Popular Hypothesis Concerning Emergence Of Multiple Sclerosis Contested ScienceDaily, Dec 2008.
Journal reference: Haak et al. IL-17A and IL-17F do not contribute vitally to autoimmune neuro-inflammation in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2008 
 

Neuroimmunology References:

Experimental Evidence for Immunomodulatory Effects of Opioids
  Discussion on the developing science of neuroimmunology.   

 

 

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More detail on
LDN Clinical Trials at lowdosenaltrexone.org

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