PATIENT CASE STUDY

Asthma, psoriasis, inflammation and psoriatic arthritis

KM, a 44-year-old woman, has had asthma since the age of five. She typically had to use her rescue inhaler weekly. She developed psoriasis 10 years ago and, within the last two years, began having symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Due to a family history of cancer, she was reluctant to use the immune suppressant medications currently offered by her rheumatologist to suppress her symptoms. KM wanted to take a deeper dive to root out the causes for her asthma and psoriasis.

Her genomic evaluation showed variants that made her prone to having sensitivity to gluten (HLADQ), and “leaky gut”, also known as gut hyperpermeability. KM also had variants promoting inflammation, including Toll receptor 3, IL-6, CRP and cAMP responsive element binding protein. Removing gluten from her diet while using supplements to balance her immune system and repair her gut has resulted in marked improvement in her asthma; she has not had to use her rescue inhaler in the last five months. Over a total time of six months, her psoriatic plaques have decreased. The joint pain was the first symptom to disappear—two months after instituting the lifestyle changes and adding the supplements.

recommended lifestyle adjustments, reducing the need for pharmaceutical intervention.

This approach will be familiar to anyone who has worked with a naturopath or functional medicine physician; it is the detailed genetic roadmap to the individual body that is the innovative and exciting part of the equation.

State-of-the-art genomic technology is moving the needle in the direction of more empowered and individualized patient care. The advancements now being implemented have been the dream of many physicians and researchers for decades. There is no better time than the present to take advantage of these innovations to improve health care outcomes in chronic conditions and prevent more serious disease further down the line.

Alicia McKelvey, MD is board-certified in Integrative Medicine and is Medical Director of Medicine for Living, in Woodbury—a personalized, precision healthcare clinic using DNA technology to prevent, heal and reverse disease. For more information about genomics or to schedule an appointment for genomic testing, call 203-405-1464 or visit MedicineForLivingCT.com. See ad, page 21.