My mother, who is 81, was recently diagnosed with a positive HLA-B27 gene. Her new opthamologist readily admitted he is not a specialist in this area of medicine and encouraged us to pursue questions by doing research, My mom has been plagued with recurrent iritis since she was a young woman. She was always told it was a virus and was treated with steroids.
As I have researched the HLA-B27, I find that not only does she have the arthritis oft connected with the immunological disorder, but she also has other medical conditions that could indicate the impact of the gene may be more pervasive than we had thought. She has a history of fractured vertebrae and severe arthritis in two joints.
My concern is two-fold. I'd like to know what, if anything can be done for my mother, and I have a daughter in her 20's who has had an episode of problems with her eyes, has hyperflexive joints, and has moderate to severe back pain. All of these can be associated with the HLA-B27 gene. I am desperately searching for a specialist who can advise us.
Help me, please, to find someone I can at least communicate with.
Thanks so much.
Looking for a specialists in or near New England
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There is DR C Stephen Foster whom I suggest you contact for care. he is an Ocular Immunologist a fellowship level expert in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of Ocular INflammaltory disease. with your mother's age, some drugs may not be appropriate and he will know which ones would best be used in a person of her age. His website is http://www.uveitis.org and an appointment can be made through this online resource
as to your daughter, she too could benefit from his input and treatment. often NSAIDS such as Celebrex, Dolobid, Indomehtacin SR etc are very effective in control of uveitis which in autoimmune in nature. the HLA B27 gene predisposes one to possible disease but not all people get uveitis. the seronegative spondyloarthropathies and the enteropathic arthropathies are linked to this genetic haplotype. things like ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis/reiter's syndrome can all be linked to this haplotype with various combinations possible.
Dr Foster is the doctor I would take my child to there in New England. his contact information can be found at http://www.uveitis.org in the patient information section of the site .
there is allot of information available here for you to read. I have tried to get information that is substantiated through multiple sources. the main thing to try to accomplish is off all steroids without inflammation using whatever disease modifying drugs are needed to prevent permanent loss of vision. some doctors insist on using just corticosteroids and dilating drops to CONTROL the uveitis. Dr Foster can often get one to durable remission. I hope he can help your mom and your daughter.
wishing you the very best,
Mike Bartolatz
as to your daughter, she too could benefit from his input and treatment. often NSAIDS such as Celebrex, Dolobid, Indomehtacin SR etc are very effective in control of uveitis which in autoimmune in nature. the HLA B27 gene predisposes one to possible disease but not all people get uveitis. the seronegative spondyloarthropathies and the enteropathic arthropathies are linked to this genetic haplotype. things like ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis/reiter's syndrome can all be linked to this haplotype with various combinations possible.
Dr Foster is the doctor I would take my child to there in New England. his contact information can be found at http://www.uveitis.org in the patient information section of the site .
there is allot of information available here for you to read. I have tried to get information that is substantiated through multiple sources. the main thing to try to accomplish is off all steroids without inflammation using whatever disease modifying drugs are needed to prevent permanent loss of vision. some doctors insist on using just corticosteroids and dilating drops to CONTROL the uveitis. Dr Foster can often get one to durable remission. I hope he can help your mom and your daughter.
wishing you the very best,
Mike Bartolatz
Mike Bartolatz
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