The Use of Antibodies to Treat Autoimmune Disease - Dr. Alan Lazarus

In this presentation high school students will first be introduced to the immune system. We will discuss how the immune system is organized and how it functions in healthy individuals. We will then discuss the role of antibodies in the immune system and delve into how they can help protect us from infectious diseases like the common cold or strep throat. We will then introduce the concept of autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type I diabetes) discussing how they can affect our body and how they are treated. Finally, we will focus in on antibodies as therapeutics in autoimmune disease with an emphasis on IVIg.
Alan H. Lazarus (PhD, McGill University, 1987, Microbiology & Immunology) is a scientist in the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital. He is also a Scientist with The Canadian Blood Services Centre for Innovation and a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Toronto.
His main area of research has been on the mechanism of action of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and other antibody therapeutics in the treatment of autoimmune disease with a focus on the autoimmune disease "immune thrombocytopenia" also known as ITP. He is actively engaged in studying new therapeutic agents to replace or augment IVIg and other antibodies in the treatment of ITP and other autoimmune diseases.

[@asiacop3936]

Very good and easy to understand...Thank you !

[@oridniv]

Specifically information on IVIG starts 29min in

[@temptwostrong]

I was on IVIG treatment at Dr LaGank office in Callum AL. I lost the it due to the blood shortage in the US. I was on the track to get better, but my body is getting very bad and I expect to be wheelchair bound or dead in two yrs or less. I don't know how anyone does put up with such dieases. I went undiagnosed CIDP/MS for a long time and it done a lot of damage. My pain is incredible and I don't take pain pain meds, I hate them and they don't work. I do take meds for the problems that the dieases cause" seizures and bladder and migraine headaches and pain that makes me want just loose it. My feet arms my arms. It's so hard to hard decribe the life altering thing, I am dealing with. I actually think about it daily. I have heart issues and lung issues as well. Too much for me.

[@temptwostrong]

I was able to get another treatment this month and feel stronger a bit but it will take yrs for me to get me under a decent life that I can be with pain I can handle it easy.

[@sbn49ajc98]

I live in Georgia. I understand your worries, fear, and mostly the progression. In 1989 I got ITP, back then IVIg was never mentioned as an option. In 1999 I got GBS and did receive IVIg. In October 2017 came CIDP diagnosis. I've been getting IVIg every 3-4 weeks for a year with $1,000 copay each time. There is a shortage Of IVIg so only a matter of time before there's no choice but to accept my fate. I'm 70 years old now and hate - just hate my decline from these autoimmune diseases. Best of luck to you.

[@temptwostrong]

@@sbn49ajc98 I am so sorry to hear about your illness. Yes, I finally got my IVIG back. If I loose it again I am so done. I don't have to pay for a copay do to Medicaid. I am disabled already, but doing well with IVIG. I just have lots of medical issues put together. I also have PPMS . I wish you all the best.

[@stefanallard3084]

​@@temptwostrong buy colostrum n heal

[@TheArty224]

"I've never heard anyone say that exercise is bad for you..." (there is a level of exercise, patients with UC are told not to exercise) only walking or stretching

[@AdrienneS1970]

I have ITP and steroids didn't raise my platelets not even a little. Was a nightmare getting off of them though!

[@oridniv]

Lecture starts 8min in

[@andreamontoya1041]

This talk only touches on a few components of the immune system, understandable for such a short talk but really does NOT explain how IVig works. It really is a talk that tells us that this lab is working on a synthetic IvIg, which is good to know.

[@vegnewb]

Does IVIG effect permanent change on the autoimmune disease?

[@bhuvanbam8499]

I don't think so, symptoms will return slowly after 5 or 6 years. But you will be in remission for some years.

[@lovecytesm.a.l9224]

The lastest academic paper I read said it last for 3 years. As for my experience, I had 4 cycles , and it lasted for 5 years. I had one that collected from human, next month I will be getting the one that's synthetic.

[@nitudekabezpara8678]

@@lovecytesm.a.l9224 so , ivig worked for you.

[@stefanallard3084]

Buy colostrum and get the same effects!!

[@lastcall170]

Loud throat clearing....great job making this annoying.