Plasmapheresis As A Novel Treatment Of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,081.00
Summary
We aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial to test our hypothesis that the removal of autoantibodies (through plasmapheresis) will reduce the severity of symptoms in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome. We will be measuring symptom scores, cardiovascular fitness on exercise testing, heart rate and blood pressure responses during valsalva and orthostatic stress as well as the metabolic profiles and presence of autoantibodies in the blood of patients participating in the trial.
Pathogenic Mechanisms In Inflammatory Demyelinating Neuropathies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$378,750.00
Summary
The causes and disease mechanisms of inflammatory neuropathy remain mostly unknown. Although treatments have been developed (intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange) they are extremely expensive, non-specific in action, beyond the means of the worlds most populous nations and a considerable burden to health resources in developed nations. These studies aim to understand better the mechanism of disease production so that better and more affordable therapy can be developed. In our current g ....The causes and disease mechanisms of inflammatory neuropathy remain mostly unknown. Although treatments have been developed (intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange) they are extremely expensive, non-specific in action, beyond the means of the worlds most populous nations and a considerable burden to health resources in developed nations. These studies aim to understand better the mechanism of disease production so that better and more affordable therapy can be developed. In our current grant we have made a most important breakthrough - which is that antibodies to a major structural protein of the myelin sheath are responsible for disease production in one subgroup of patients. We plan to search for other antigenic targets in other patient groups and to see whether we can regulate the disease by new mechanisms which would be cheaper and more effective.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Antibody In Inflammatory Demyelinating Neuropathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$218,566.00
Summary
The causes and disease mechanism of inflammatory neuropathy remain unknown. Although treatments have been developed (intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange) they are extremely expensive and non specific in action and beyond the means of the worlds most populous nations. These studies plan to illuminate the mechanism of disease production so that better and more affordable therapy can be developed. We have shown that antibodies which cause nerve damage are present in patients serum. Antib ....The causes and disease mechanism of inflammatory neuropathy remain unknown. Although treatments have been developed (intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange) they are extremely expensive and non specific in action and beyond the means of the worlds most populous nations. These studies plan to illuminate the mechanism of disease production so that better and more affordable therapy can be developed. We have shown that antibodies which cause nerve damage are present in patients serum. Antibodies bind to specific target molecules and our work is close to identifying that target on nerve. We also plan to study how antibody leaks into nerve. This knowledge should allow more specific and effective treatment to be developed.Read moreRead less