Welcome to the genetic ice age in animals.

1. Welcome to the genetic ice age in animals.

2. Remember: Extinction is forever! Dr. Plechner

3. This will be an introduction to EI imbalances in animals. Dr. Plechner

4. Hopefully you will never have to treat an EI imbalance that looks like this! Dr. Plechner

5. Why have these EI imbalances occurred first in animals? • A genetic geometric progression of EI imbalances has occurred. • Indiscriminate family breeding plus “designer” animal breeding has brought the “gene pool” close enough to cause the EI imbalance. Dr. Plechner

6. Dr. Plechner

7. What is this EI imbalance ? • The imbalance is the development of deficient or bound cortisol leading to the high estrogen, which not only further binds cortisol, but also binds T3T4 leading to a deregulated immune system. • The actual animal EI test is only done on blood samples. • This includes cortisol, T3 T4, total estrogen & IgA, IgG & IgM. These are comparative levels, not emperical levels. The laboratory will give you the normal ranges versus the level that appears in the animal. Dr. Plechner

8. Genetics, aging, medical input and environment input: Regulates Hormones Regulates B & T Cells Dr. Plechner

9. Figure one – The adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, hypothalamic axis normalizes the immune system in animals. Dr. Plechner

10. This schematic shows normal relationships and feedback activity between the adrenal cortex and the hypothalamus and pituitary, and in turn, a healthy regulatory influence on the immune system. Dr. Plechner

11. Figure two – Cortisol deficiency or imbalance can lead to anterior pituitary over-producing ACTH which leads to an adrenal estrogen excess which not only binds cortisol, T3 T4 but deregulates the immune system in animals. Dr. Plechner

12. Deficient or inactive cortisol triggers a flood of ACTH and adrenal estrogen.  The combination binds remaining cortisol as well as thyroid hormone, and destabilizes the immune system.  Metabolism also slows as a result of impact on the thyroid. Dr. Plechner

13. Figure three – replacement therapy with physiological dose levels ofhydrocortisone and thyroid hormones restore order to immune regulation through adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary hypothalamic axis resulting in normalization in animal. Dr. Plechner

14. Long-term replacement therapy with physiologic doses of cortisone (and thyroid hormone, as needed) restores order to the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and immune system. Dr. Plechner

15. In clinical studies, the guide to hormonal replacement therapy lies with normalizing adrenal estrogen and IgA, IgG & IgM levels through cortisol thyroid replacement. In dogs a combination of hydrocortisone and thyroid supplements will be used. In cats, 90% of the EI cases, hydrocortisone will be used. Dr. Plechner

16. Remember, in animals, too little or too much steroid thyroid replacement may lead to deregulation of the immune system. • In animals, usually the sooner the EI imbalance occurs, the sooner the disease begins. Dr. Plechner

17. What are the diseases that we see in animals? • Allergy, auto immunities, chronic bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, retroviral diseases and cancer. • Retrovirus are seen mainly in cats. Dr. Plechner

18. What are these retrovirus? • Feline Leukemia • Feline Aids • Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Dr. Plechner

19. Does not occur in cats with normal EI balance. • Only occurs in cats with hormonal imbalances which have led to a deregulated immune system. • When the deregulated immune cells recognize the virus, they kill the virus and the host. Dr. Plechner

20. Success rate with retroviral diseases. • Felv – 85% • Fiv - 75% • Fip - 70% Dr. Plechner

21. In a multiple cat household, if one cat has developed a retrovirus, test the others. • If negative, watch carefully. • However, if any of the cats test positive, then the EI test is done. • If EI test is normal for example, FIV will not develop into feline Aids. • If EI test abnormal, then you correct the imbalance to stop the development of feline aids. Dr. Plechner

22. Inflammatory bowel disease patients all have EI imbalances with abnormal IgA levels. • IgA imbalances relate to most diseases of the mucous membranes in the body. • Research has shown the secretory and circulatory IgA levels are the same animals. Dr. Plechner

23. What are some of the IgA imbalanced diseases: • Periodontal disease • Food sensitivities • Inflammatory bowel disease • Chronic respiratory disease • Chronic kidney and bladder disease • Stinging insect sensitivity • Vaccine reactions • Anaphylaxis Dr. Plechner

24. To re-regulate the EI imbalance, if IgA level is below 60g/dL, injectable steroid will be given at 3-week intervals with thyroid hormone twice daily. Due to steroid malabsorption, injectable steroids are more effective. Dr. Plechner

25. When adrenal estrogen approaches normal, so will IgA. Oral steroid is indicated now. • In a dog & cat, normal range for IgA = 70 – 170mg/dL. • Again remember in an animal, too little or too much steroid or thyroid will lead to an EI imbalance. • These animal models are easier to work with because most female patients have had an ovario-hysterectomies. • Further studies have indicated that hormone levels may be normal but without comparative test, no one knows if they actually work. Dr. Plechner

26. A sluggish metabolism can lead to a hormone being present in the blood stream at a 36 hour level as opposed to a 24 hour measurement level which appear to be normal. • Hemoconcentration may raise hormone levels and give false normals. • These animal studies indicate that a patient’s window for hormone replacement relates to normalizing the immune system. Dr. Plechner

27. In closing, the hormone replacement protocol used to treat an EI imbalance is simple and effective: • Establish initial levels of total estrogen, T3& T4, IgG, IgM and IgA. (Depending on the patient’s symptons, other blood tests may be indicated.) • Fund the patients deficiencies with either injectable or oral steroid and a thyroid supplement. • Re-test hormone and antibody levels and adjust medication accordingly. • At least annual testing should be done after the patient has been normalized. Dr. Plechner