Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / March 2005

Here's some biophysical reasons HOWE COME
MOST OF HOWER DOG LOVERS'S DOGS ARE
breakin DHOWEN DYIN an DROPPIN DEAD from
STRESS INDUCED AUTO-IMMUNE DIS-EASE aka
The Puppy Wizard's SYNDROME:

Veterinarian treats thousands of pets with multiple
illnesses from chronic infections to autoimmune conditions
and finds a common anomaly - adrenal/thyroid
hormonal-imbalances & deficiencies

The adrenals are a pair of ductless glands that sit atop the
kidneys in the lower part of the back. New insights on
metabolism and hormonal balance indicate that the adrenals
and thyroid have a direct role in energy production,
well-being, allergies, immune function and many other areas
of human health.

An article by Alfred J Plechner DVM and M. Zucker
"Unrecognized endocrine-Immune Defects in Multiple
Diseases: An Effective Veterinary model may offer
Therapeutic promise for human conditions. A mutual
friend, Martin Zucker, sparked my interest in Plechners
theories and treatment approach. Zucker stated that
Alfred Plechner has developed a simple protocol for
treating cats, dogs and other pets that have chronic
infections and multiple health problems that do
not resolve on their own.

The protocol involves diagnostic testing for certain
thyroid and adrenal hormones followed by low-dose
adrenal and thyroid replacement hormones that are
used together rather than separately. The result of the
treatment is that Adrenal estrogen production declines
and stops binding to thyroid hormones. The end result
is that thyroxin is freed-up to increase ATP production
in the cells. This normalizes body temperature and cell-
mediated immune functions improve.

According to Zucker, Plechner treated dozens of cats with
FIV infection. Zucker stated that the treatment restored
normal immune function. FIV stands for Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus. The equivalent in humans is HIV. I
asked Zucker if this treatment approach has ever been used
in humans to treat HIV? He said that to his knowledge it has
not. One wonders what Plechner's protocol would do for HIV
and other immune deficiency diseases including CFIDS,
candidiasis, cancer, hepatitis, Lyme disease, lupus, MS,
allergies and autoimmune diseases. Will it bring us closer
to a cure for AIDS or a control that has little or no side
effects?

How and why do deficits and imbalances in endocrine
hormones affect the immune system? We know that
hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) leaves a person
vulnerable to one chronic infection after another.

In Wisconsin, Dennis, a local PWA, HIV+ since 1983
has had above normal body temperature all his life
and after all these years, still no HIV progression.
Never on drugs his viral load is still under 1000.

In a separate phone call to Alfred Plechner, I asked him
what exactly is his treatment protocol? Here was his reply.

Alfred: The treatment consists of giving low dose thyroid
hormones along with low-dose cortisone.

Mark: You mean low-dose thyroid hormones like Armour
Thyroid that provide the thyroid hormone "thyroxin" and
Cortone that provide one of the adrenal hormones cortisone
or its most active form - hydrocortisone?

Alfred: Yes, the equivalent of these drugs for use in humans
is available by prescription for household pets and other
animals. The amount given varies according to the weight of
the animal and the results of diagnostic tests. If I were
treating an adult human, I would start off with 1/2 grain of
thyroid (about 60 mg) and 5 mg of cortisone twice a day. You
need to monitor blood pressure when giving thyroid as too
much could cause it to rise as well as increase the pulse
rate. The process of increasing thyroid use has to be
gradual. Usually the amount of cortisone used is maintained
at a low level.

Mark: I can understand the role of the thyroid hormone as it
controls cellular metabolism throughout the body, the
production of ATP and will help in normalizing body
temperature that is critical for restoring cell-mediated
immune responses, but cortisone, is it not
immunosuppressive?

Alfred: Absolutely, if you take too much of it. The same is
true for zinc. Research has shown that too little zinc or
too much is immunosuppressive and this has been shown for
other nutrients as well. You absolutely need zinc for your
thymus gland to function properly and mature T cells but you
don't want too much or too little. Experience has shown that
15 to 30 mg daily is a safe and effective dosage range. Now
for cortisone, it is a natural anti-inflammatory hormone and
the normal healthy human body produces about 40 mg daily. It
is well established that too much cortisone is
immunosuppressive, in fact, for this reason alone, cortisone
has a bad reputation. What is not known is that too little
free cortisol is immunosuppressive. There are many people
treated with thyroid hormones that get their body
temperature back to normal and many who do not. One reason
is that part of the Adrenal glands are exhausted and are not
producing enough cortisol and another part of the Adrenal
glands are producing too much estrogen that binds to
thyroxin. The production of cortisol is controlled through a
feedback loop. Note: When cortisone is administered, it is
converted to the active form called cortisol that is also
known as hydrocortisone.

Mark: What is a feedback loop?

Alfred: Cortisol levels are controlled by a classical
feedback loop that involves the hypothalamus-pituitary and
adrenal glands. Cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid, is
produced in the middle Adrenal cortex layer. We have found a
problem in cortisol production that comes from two of three
layers of the adrenal cortex. The defect can be genetic or
due to other causes (nutritional deficiencies or toxins).
Cortisol stimulates several processes that serve to increase
and maintain normal glucose levels in the blood, exert a
potent anti-inflammatory effect and act as a regulating
factor for normal immune function.

Mark: Tell me more about this "loop" and how does
normalizing cortisol and estrogen levels affect the
functioning of the Thyroid gland and help restore normal
body temperature and cell-mediated immune function?

Alfred: "The loop is called the
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Cortisol is secreted in
response to a single stimulator: AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone
(ACTH) that is produced by the Pituitary gland. ACTH is
itself secreted under control of the Hypothalamus and a
hormone it secretes called Corticotropic-Releasing Factor
(CRF). Cortisol secretion is suppressed or stimulated by
classical feedback loops. When blood concentrations rise
above a certain threshold, cortisol inhibits CRF secretion.
This, in turn, inhibits ACTH and less ACTH reduces adrenal
secretion of cortisol.

"However, when the adrenal gland is unable to produce enough
cortisol, or for some reason the cortisol is bound, or
otherwise inactive, and thus not recognized by the system,
the pituitary continues to produce ACTH in order to extract
more cortisol from the adrenals.

"The inner cortical layer, where adrenal estrogen is
produced, also responds to ACTH. The result of constant ACTH
stimulation in a situation where cortisol is bound or
deficient produces a release of adrenal estrogen into the
system. As cortisol levels fail to reach the threshold to
stop the Hypothalamus from secreting CRF, the CRF stimulates
the Pituitary to continue to secrete ACTH. The ACTH tries to
get the Adrenal gland to produce cortisol but the same ACTH
also stimulates the adrenals to secrete estrogen. As a
result of an inability of the adrenals to keep up with
demand for cortisol, adrenal estrogen levels build up and
cause the following:

1. A histamine-like effect on capillaries, leading to
inflammation from blood components spilling into adjacent
tissues

2. Binding thyroid hormone

3. Further deregulation of lymphocytes and antibodies. "

Mark: Elevated histamine levels have been linked to elevated
interluken 6 levels in many studies. If the histamine like
effects are due to actual elevated histamine levels then
should not we also expect IL-6 levels to increase also; and
if that were the case, would we not also expect a shift in
cytokine profiles from TH1 to the less effective TH2?

Alfred: That is a good question. I have not investigated
whether or not IL-6 levels are elevated in these conditions
but I have found out that IgA levels are low and these low
levels in the digestive tract lead to food allergies and
sensitivities as well as malabsorption.

Mark: IgA is a TH1 cytokine needed for mucosal immunity.
Bifidobacteria Longum has been found to increase the levels
of IgA as does vitamin A. What are some of the benefits of
supplementing with low-dose thyroid and cortisone you have
observed in your clinical practice?

Alfred: After a trial and error period, I have developed a
testing and treatment strategy that has proved to safe and
highly effective. The central modality is replacement with
physiological doses of cortisone preparations to address the
root issue of cortisol deficiency. The low-dose cortisone
preparations normalize ACTH levels, stop the overproduction
of adrenal estrogen and the accompanying estrogen blockade
of the thyroid hormones and reregulates the immune system.
The use of low dose cortisone long term has also been
reported by Jefferies for treating allergies, autoimmune
disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome (1).

The second important modality is the simultaneous use of
thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone is needed because the
excess adrenal estrogen has bound some of the thyroid
hormone. The low dose thyroid hormone helps increase the
metabolic rate and the liver to detoxify as well as process
the cortisol. By giving cortisol and thyroid replacement
simultaneously, the body is able to effectively utilize and
process the former (cortisol) without developing side
effects.

Once the testing and low-dose hormone therapy is underway,
it is very important to follow a hypoallergenic diet and
remove foods to which the animal or person is sensitive.
After a few weeks, the sensitive foods may be reintroduced
one at a time.

Mark: Have you written and published other articles on this
subject?

Alfred: In the late 1970's, I wrote 4 articles (2, 3, 4 and
5) on my experiences and theories but found no germane
research in veterinary journals to provide guidance.

Mark: As a general guide for someone who has low body
temperature, low cortisol and high estrogen, what would be a
safe dose with which to start?

Alfred: For cortisol, 5 mg twice a day. Take at 8am and 2pm.
Do not take cortisone supplements in the evening or before
bedtime, as it will interfere with the REM state of sleep.
We want cortisol levels higher when we are awake and low
when we are asleep. In normal subjects, cortisol levels are
highest at 8am in the morning. Also, melatonin levels that
help promote restful sleep should be lowest during the day
and increase after dark and before bedtime. A melatonin
spillover in the AM can depress the basal metabolic rate all
day. This can be turned off by exposing the eyes to bright
natural lights for a few minutes or taking a walk outside
without wearing sunglasses.

For thyroid, 1/4 grain (about 15 mg) daily to start and
after a few weeks if blood pressure and pulse are not
elevated to gradually increase the thyroid amount. The
cortisol levels are left the same. The hormonal and immune
benefits will accrue and be maintained as long as the person
stays on the protocol. A physician's prescription is
required for both the cortisol and thyroid hormones. The key
here is low-dose for successful long-term use as adverse
effects may develop from higher doses. Note: Thyroxine is a
strong inducer of IgA, a TH1 cytokine needed for intestinal
and mucosal health.

Ref: 1. Jefferies, w. McK. Mild adrencortical deficiency,
chronic allergies, autoimmune disorders and the chronic
fatigue syndrome: a continuation of the cortisone story.
Medical Hypothesis, 1994; 42;183-189

2. Plechner A. J., Shannon M., Canine Immune Complex
diseases. Modern Veterinary Practice, November 1976; 917

3. Plechner A. J., Shannon M., Epstein A, Goldstein E.,
Howard E. B., Endocrine-immune surveillance. Pulse.
June-July, 1978

4. Plechner A. J., Theory of endocrine-immune surveillance.
California Veterinarian, Jan 1979; 12.

5. Plechner A. J. Preliminary observations on
endocrine-associated immunodeficiencies in dogs? A clinician
explores the relationship of immunodeficiencies to
endocrinopathy. Modern Veterinary Practice, 1979; 811

Important Highlights from Alfred Plechner's article

35,000 pets treated with this protocol
Alfred Plechner states he has treated over 35000 pets in the
past 20 years with this protocol. Plechner reports that low
cortisol and thyroid hormone lowers T cell panels in the
tests. Estrogen can exert a dramatic blocking effect on
cortisol and thyroid hormones, and just a slight variation
out of normal is enough to cause hormonal and immune
complications. In this case, the relationship is usually low
cortisol, high estrogen and deregulated immune cells.

In female animals that are not neutered, testing is done
when the animals are not in estrus and are not producing
high levels of ovarian estrogen.

Diagnostic Tests used by Plechner