Located this and over 1,100 other references using scirus.com a search engine specifically designed for sci/med articles. Another much larger search engine designed for locating obscure sci/med info is copernik2001 however it must be downloaded [it's free] and takes up lots of hard drive capacity.
[url="http://www.hamline.edu/~wnk/lupus-l/msg07622.html"]http://www.hamline.edu/~wnk/lupus-l/msg07622.html[/url]
Scanning of article titles suggests that this condition is still considered idiopathic [cause unknown]. Looks as though most investigations are being conducted in Europe, followed by U.S. and Japan. Articles mostly appear in HEM, ONC, RHEUM and related immunology-related journals.
Treatment modalities so far favour steroids as this appears to be a form of auto-immune disease. No surprise there since steroids [esp. prednisone] are still the med community's favourite med for anything to do with the immune system.
Suggest looking up meds used for transplant since almost all are immune-suppressants and there are quite a few currently in use such as MMF [CellCept], Cyclosporine [Neoral], Pentastatin, FK506 [Tacrolimus], photophoresis [a form of light therapy in conjunction with meds], etc.
The most successful results appear to have been obtained when these drugs are taken in combination - 2 or 3 different immune-suppressants at a time, usually with all meds taken at their respective therapeutic levels, over an extended period followed by a lengthy step-down [med dosage reduction].
Here are a few links:
CellCept [url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/203436.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/203436.html[/url]
Neoral - The most stable cyclosporine formulation is the Neoral which is why it's used most often in pediatric bone marrow transplant. Caution - everyone I know who's ever taken this at therapeutic dosage levels has major nausea and vomiting. The only way around it is to juggle your eating vs. med schedule.
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202176.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202176.html[/url]
Tacrolimus (Systemic)
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202914.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202914.html[/url]
Pentostatin - the 'label' use is for treating hairy cell leukemia, however this med's usage has recently [past 12 months] been extended for the treatment/ management of some transplant-related [auto-immune] conditions.
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202650.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202650.html[/url]
Methoxscalen [used in Photopheresis] - primary/original usage was for severe auto-immune skin disorders [esp. psoriasis].
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202650.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202650.html[/url]
Also suggest you look at investigational meds for the treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans which is a post-transplant auto-immune condition with invasive tissue growth in the lungs.
[url="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/action/SearchAction?JServSessionIdzone_ct=6bx9d qplw1&term=bronchiolitis+obliterans&subm it=Search"]http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/action/SearchAction?JServSessionIdzone_ct=6bx9d qplw1&term=bronchiolitis+obliterans&subm it=Search[/url]
The major U.S. centers currently studying various auto-immune disorders include most of the major cancer centres, esp. Johns Hopkins. Recently found out that Yale also appears to be doing a lot of work in skin/connective tissue auto-immune disorders.
Also suggest you monitor the pharmaceutical manufacturers' Web sites for Phase II clinical trials and results for these and related classes of drugs.
Good luck,
Jay
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