Bill's pure dimethylfumarate thread

[Caroline]

DMF is very active biochemically, and the reactivity with cysteine residues seems to be important. Because of this activity it is hard to see how it could work as a systemic anti-fungal i.e. Where is all the free DMF to do the job? The significance of fumaric acid is that DMF is readily metabolised after it has had its pharmacological effect. Dr Schweckendiek's ideas of how fumaric esters worked against psoriasis were wrong. What matters is that he tested his ideas and demonstrated a therapeutic effect.

Cheers,

Bill

Bill,

I've split this off from the diet thread of Alan. As that should not become a DMF thread.

What did you have in mind when you said: "Dr Schweckendiek's ideas of how fumaric esters worked against psoriasis were wrong.". ?

Cheers,
Caroline

[Bill]

Hi Caroline,

My idea is that nature tends to confound. Esterification was to get fumaric acid into the body, but the esters turned out to be the active agent.

Cheers,

Bill

[Caroline]

Hi Caroline,

My idea is that nature tends to confound. Esterification was to get fumaric acid into the body, but the esters turned out to be the active agent.

Cheers,

Bill

But what does that mean about the ideas of Schweckendieck?


Hurricane Debbie is heading into the direction of Australia, Queensland I read, is that close to you ? In that case: Hold tight !!

[Bill]

Thanks, Caroline. I am well away from the cyclone.

Theories can be debunked as knowledge improves. What cannot be challenged are sound experimental results.

Cheers,

Bill

[Bill]

A blood test today gave a lymphocyte count of 0.77. The WBC count is 5.5. I have resumed twice weekly dosing and the result is consistent with DMF having a suppressive effect on lymphocytes in inverse proportion to the lymphocyte count. So at 1.0 I can safely take 800 mg twice weekly, whereas at 0.8 the same dose will likely cause my count to drop further. The implication is that I will need to reduce my dose by at least 25% until such time as the lymphocyte count recovers. Bugger!

[Caroline]

A blood test today gave a lymphocyte count of 0.77. The WBC count is 5.5. I have resumed twice weekly dosing and the result is consistent with DMF having a suppressive effect on lymphocytes in inverse proportion to the lymphocyte count. So at 1.0 I can safely take 800 mg twice weekly, whereas at 0.8 the same dose will likely cause my count to drop further. The implication is that I will need to reduce my dose by at least 25% until such time as the lymphocyte count recovers. Bugger!

That's a hiccup Bill.
But isn't it so that, with longer duration of a dose LC goes down, but gradually will come up again? I have always believed the lowering is a temporary effect.

[Bill]

It may well be, Caroline, but I did read some research suggesting that counts that went into grade two didn't generally recover while on DMF. That would explain the slow ramp up of dosage. I have been reading a little more and have a couple of ideas to get the count back up. I can only try.

Cheers,

Bill

[Bill]

A bit more info. Here is a table of lymphocyte counts and associated dosing:

Date                                               Lymphocytes                                         DMF doses after test:Total dose(mg)

12/12/2016                                    0.6                                                           2*800;1200:2800

05/01/2017                                    0.7                                                           3*1200:3600

06/02/2017                                    0.75                                                         3*1200:3600

06/03/2017                                    0.83                                                         2*1200;2*600;2*800:5200
   
03/04/2017                                    0.77

From this I would guess that by sticking with 800 mg doses every six days I should eventually see my count recover. I have also started taking glutamine, but as with most supplements my expectation is that it will do nothing. I expect the next test to be around 0.8, so anything markedly different (higher hopefully) would be encouraging.

[Caroline]

Indeed Bill, you see a steady bouncing back with equal doses, and a bump in again, with the higher dose.
That is along the experiences over here in NL.

[Bill]

Well I have been taking 1600mg a week for many months with the count staying around 1, so the data is consistent with the dosage being more suppressive for lower counts. I can test the idea when the count gets a bit over 1 by immediately increasing to a twice weekly dose. It might also be prudent to start doing some differential counts at home to keep a closer eye on things if I try this.

Cheers,

Bill