Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Is LIT safe?

Is LIT (lymphocyte immunization therapy) safe? I went to the clinic this afternoon for the LIT. I was asked to sign a waiver form. In the waiver form, it says there is a risk of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), although it is rare. This a condition wherein the immune cells of the donor (or the graft) recognizes the recipient (or the host) as "foreign". Do I need to Google it? Wow! I don't care much. This is truly my leap of faith.

The LIT process was like being bitten by a giant mosquito for 16 times. The white blood cell inject from each donors is just 0.2 ml. Thanks to my 4 donors. I was warned that I may develop intense itch or pus in 24 hours and fever perhaps. I am just wondering on the efficacy of these 16 giant mosquito bites. Can this solve my immunologic problem? Wow! This is the true definition of faith!

Come what may! If it triggered my uveitis, so be it. Steriods to the rescue anyway. I will see my immunologist after 2 to 3 days.

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Adverse effects of intradermal allogeneic lymphocyte immunotherapy: acute reactions and role of autoimmunity http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/2/429.full.pdf+html

The incidence of autoimmune disease was 0.1%. This is one in a thousand. I am not the unluckiest person in this planet. I am not a risk of GVHD (graft versus host disease) also. This usually occurs on consanguinous donors. Conclusion: The incidence of side effects are low therefore LIT treatment is justified.

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