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Uranium And Lupus
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ironjustice
Nov 13, 2012, 10:52:38 AM11/13/12
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Uranium exposure linked to high lupus rates in community living near a
former refinery
November 13, 2012
High rates of systemic lupus erythematosus have been linked to living
in proximity to a former uranium ore processing facility in Ohio,
according to new research findings presented this week at the American
College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, also called SLE or lupus, is a chronic
inflammatory disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs,
nervous system, and/or other organs of the body. The most common
symptoms include skin rashes and arthritis, often accompanied by
fatigue and fever. Lupus occurs mostly in women, typically developing
in individuals in their twenties and thirties – prime child-bearing
age.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's
Medical Center sought to explain an excessive number of lupus cases
reported in a community five miles from a former uranium plant in
Fernald, Ohio, from 1990 to 2008. They used available medical data
from the Fernald Community Cohort, an 18-year study of 8,788 adult
volunteers living near the plant, not including any plant workers.
"What prompted us was the knowledge that lupus patients may be
sensitive to sunlight and irradiation, in addition to literature
hinting that miners may be at increased risk for developing lupus,"
says Pai-Yue Lu, MD, a pediatric rheumatology fellow at Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center and the lead researcher in the
study. "When we learned of the Fernald cohort, how carefully the
community had been followed, and the uranium exposure data collected,
we were curious whether the frequency of lupus in those exposed was
increased over those who had not been exposed. The availability of
this cohort and carefully collected data provided a great setting to
ask this question."
Using the data from the cohort, 24 cases of lupus were confirmed. Data
collected included ICD9 medical codes associated with lupus,
hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) prescription, and autoantibody testing.
Lupus cases were confirmed using an operational definition of the
disease according to ACR classification criteria and medical record
documentation.
Estimated levels of uranium exposure from the plant were associated
with higher rates of lupus. Among the lupus cases, 12 were in the high
exposure group, seven with moderate exposure, and five in the low
exposure group. Lupus was associated with the high exposure group.
Typical U.S. incidence for lupus is 1.8 to 7.6 cases per 100,000
people per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention statistics. Prevalence in this group, however, is five
times higher than expected in the group exposed to higher amounts of
radiation.
Although the exact connection between uranium exposure and lupus is
unknown, studies in mice have shown that uranium can mimic the effects
of estrogen, says Dr. Lu. "In adults, lupus is 10 times more common in
women compared to men and estrogen effects have been a target of
research. Also, uranium is a radioactive element, and the accompanying
radiation exposure has been known to cause genetic mutations and
changes in gene expression. Both genes and environment may play a role
in lupus development."
Exploring which potential environmental factors may trigger or cause
lupus is making slow progress, says Dr. Lu. "There are likely many
contributing environmental factors. A starting place for exposure
identification is the study of well-characterized cohorts such as the
Fernald cohort used in this project."
More information: Lu, P. et al., Identifying a Link Between Uranium
Exposure and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Community Living near a
Uranium Plant.
Provided by American College of Rheumatology
--------------
Uranium causes hemolysis.
"Radiation induced acute hemolytic anemia"
Lupus is thought to be hemolytic anemia.
"Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus"
--
Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/2r2nkh
Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk
former refinery
November 13, 2012
High rates of systemic lupus erythematosus have been linked to living
in proximity to a former uranium ore processing facility in Ohio,
according to new research findings presented this week at the American
College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, also called SLE or lupus, is a chronic
inflammatory disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs,
nervous system, and/or other organs of the body. The most common
symptoms include skin rashes and arthritis, often accompanied by
fatigue and fever. Lupus occurs mostly in women, typically developing
in individuals in their twenties and thirties – prime child-bearing
age.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's
Medical Center sought to explain an excessive number of lupus cases
reported in a community five miles from a former uranium plant in
Fernald, Ohio, from 1990 to 2008. They used available medical data
from the Fernald Community Cohort, an 18-year study of 8,788 adult
volunteers living near the plant, not including any plant workers.
"What prompted us was the knowledge that lupus patients may be
sensitive to sunlight and irradiation, in addition to literature
hinting that miners may be at increased risk for developing lupus,"
says Pai-Yue Lu, MD, a pediatric rheumatology fellow at Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center and the lead researcher in the
study. "When we learned of the Fernald cohort, how carefully the
community had been followed, and the uranium exposure data collected,
we were curious whether the frequency of lupus in those exposed was
increased over those who had not been exposed. The availability of
this cohort and carefully collected data provided a great setting to
ask this question."
Using the data from the cohort, 24 cases of lupus were confirmed. Data
collected included ICD9 medical codes associated with lupus,
hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) prescription, and autoantibody testing.
Lupus cases were confirmed using an operational definition of the
disease according to ACR classification criteria and medical record
documentation.
Estimated levels of uranium exposure from the plant were associated
with higher rates of lupus. Among the lupus cases, 12 were in the high
exposure group, seven with moderate exposure, and five in the low
exposure group. Lupus was associated with the high exposure group.
Typical U.S. incidence for lupus is 1.8 to 7.6 cases per 100,000
people per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention statistics. Prevalence in this group, however, is five
times higher than expected in the group exposed to higher amounts of
radiation.
Although the exact connection between uranium exposure and lupus is
unknown, studies in mice have shown that uranium can mimic the effects
of estrogen, says Dr. Lu. "In adults, lupus is 10 times more common in
women compared to men and estrogen effects have been a target of
research. Also, uranium is a radioactive element, and the accompanying
radiation exposure has been known to cause genetic mutations and
changes in gene expression. Both genes and environment may play a role
in lupus development."
Exploring which potential environmental factors may trigger or cause
lupus is making slow progress, says Dr. Lu. "There are likely many
contributing environmental factors. A starting place for exposure
identification is the study of well-characterized cohorts such as the
Fernald cohort used in this project."
More information: Lu, P. et al., Identifying a Link Between Uranium
Exposure and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Community Living near a
Uranium Plant.
Provided by American College of Rheumatology
--------------
Uranium causes hemolysis.
"Radiation induced acute hemolytic anemia"
Lupus is thought to be hemolytic anemia.
"Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus"
--
Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/2r2nkh
Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk
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