The Complex face of Allergy and Intolerance

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I personally feel that allergy in some form is a vital part of the cascade of CPPS. But, sadly, the allergists and immunologists themselves are still blundering around in the dark on these issues. For instance, look at this recent abstract:

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2002 Nov 30;146(48):2289-93

[Article in Dutch]

Gerth van Wijk R, van Cauwenberge PB, Johansson SG.

Erasmus Medisch Centrum, afd. Allergologie, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam. [email protected]

The European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology has proposed a revised terminology for allergic and allergy-related reactions that can be used independently of target organ or patient age group. The proposed terminology is based on the present knowledge of the mechanisms which initiate and mediate allergic reactions. 'Hypersensitivity' is an umbrella term, 'allergy' involves a hypersensitivity reaction which is initiated by an immunological mechanism, and 'atopy' is an individual or familial tendency to produce IgE antibodies in response to low doses of allergens, and is accompanied by the typical symptoms or asthma rhino-conjunctivitis or eczema/dermatitis. Each condition should be categorised as 'allergic/not allergic', and the allergic conditions should be further categorised as 'IgE-mediated/non IgE-mediated' (sometimes: 'IgE-associated'). Terms which are no longer in use include: 'idiosyncrasy' (this will now become 'hypersensitivity'); 'pseudo-allergy' ('non-allergic hypersensitivity'); 'extrinsic', 'intrinsic', 'endogenous' and 'exogenous asthma' ('allergic' (possibly 'IgE-mediated') and 'non-allergic asthma'); 'atopic eczema' ('atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome': 'allergic (possibly 'IgE-mediated') or 'non-allergic'); 'intrinsic' and 'cryptogenic variants of eczema' ('non-allergic atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome'); 'food intolerance' ('non-allergic food hypersensitivity') and 'anaphylactoid reaction' ('non-allergic anaphylaxis').

PMID: 12497756 [PubMed - in process]

More reading:
http://www.nutramed.com/allergy/hypersens1.htm

[Ralph]

The more I analyze may symptoms, the more I realize how much food enters into the equation. I suspect very strongly that an allergy mediated response to certain foods is at least one, if not the most important, factor in how I feel. It seems certain protiens and/or fats cause havic to me.