Pythiosis
is the disease which results from an infection of the fungal like organism
Pythium insidiosum in the Midwest and Northeast United States and as
far north as Canada. Pythiosis is characterized by a severe, local,
Type 4 allergic reaction. The site of infection is populated with T
Helper 2 cells and demonstrates high levels of the inflammatory cytokine
Interleukin 4. Clinically the patient presents with an inflamed lesion
which grows quickly, becoming necrotic and serasangeunus. In Chronic
cases the lesion invades the bone, musculature and viscera. If left
untreated, the infection results in death in most cases.
Treatment
has been limited to various antifungal compounds, which are generally
of limited effect and surgical rescission of the infection site. While
surgery has been effective in some cases it is often impossible to completely
excise the infection and re-establishment of the lesion is common.
PAVL
PYTHILIM IMMUNOTHERAPY consists of a series of injections of purified
exoproteins of Pythium insidiosum. This converts the pathologic TH2
response (allergic) to a protective TH1 (non allergic) response. The
result is diminished inflammation and necrosis.
PAVL
PYTHIUM IMMUNOTHERAPY has demonstrated greater than 98% success in acute
infections (<15 days) and 75% success in chronic (>3O days) infections.
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