Really interesting article

[medcats10]

So I was sitting around last night messing around on the internet and just doing random research like I do most nights. I came across this article about c-reactive protein. I was interested in it because I have elevated c-reactive protein, and that has thrown the doctors off because they think that that means I have some underlying autoimmune thing going on. Well this article is really interesting. They actually looked at the molecular shape of c-reactive protein in six disease states, Cushing's being one of them, and found that c-reactive protein actually changes "shape" (and if you know a little bit about molecular chemistry and proteins then you know that shape is very important to how proteins are able to function) in certain disease states. So, in Cushing's disease they found that two carbohydrate groups are actually missing off the protein. Now c-reactive protein is active in our bodeis in the acute inflammation process and is a necessary part of the immune system. They didn't go into this specifically, but they talked about the protein's decreased ability to bind to its targets due to these missing pieces, and I was thinking this may be a huge piece of why people with Cushing's have "weakened immune systems." They didn't really delve into those aspects specifically though as their research was really cutting edge, the first time anyone had ever looked at the molecular shape and hypothesized that it might be different in diseased states. This article was in 2003, and not in the US, so I am really hoping that there has been more research since then. And ultimately, wouldn't it be great if a "test" for Cushing's could come out of this research, just by isolating someone's CRP and looking for these very specific changes. I will put the link to the article in the post, but I am warning you it is a very dense article and even I skimmed over most of their methodology, but I would recommend reading the introduction and the conclusion, they are both moderately easy to follow along.

 

C-Reactive Protein and Cushing's Article

[JenS]

Nice... like you said, the article was very dense and so I had a hard time with it. Well, I hardly got any of it but when I was in the throes, so to speak, my CRP was 42! The insurance company said the test was bogus, would not pay so I could not get follow up tests.

Very interesting.

[MCF]

Alicia, VERY interesting find, thanks!

[casag]

Dr. F. is studying the link between elevated CRP and Cushings. Many of us have had elevated levels.

 

Thanks for the article.

[gumdrop]

I'm wondering if Dr F is studying the link to high Fibrinogen which also goes hand in hand with high CRP and Cushings.

[staticnrg]

Wow, interesting stuff all over the boards today and I don't have time to peruse 'em all! Thanks, everyone....BBL!!

 

XOXO

Robin

[WackyPhotographer]

That would be great if they could do that. I thought I had Lyme at first and had some blood work done I tested neg for Lyme but they found out my immune system was low by testing my CD 57. The normal range is 60-300 mine was at a 17. How scary is that? Just imagine what everybody elses are? I think doctors should use these test to narrow down what peoples problems are and could be. Thanks for all of the advice. I hope that was viral meningitis I want to know how to spot it. I hope thing are well.