Dupuytren’s or palmar fasciitis?
Dupuytren’s isn’t the only problem which can affect the fascia of the palm. Inflammation of the palmar fascia (palmar fasciitis) may be due to less common problems, and differs from typical Dupuytren’s in that it is usually painful. The difference between Dupuytren’s and palmar fasciitis is similar to the difference between Ledderhose disease and plantar […]
Metalloproteinases and Dupuytren’s
A better understanding of the biology of metalloproteinases may lead to new treatment options for Dupuytren’s. Metalloproteinases (MMPS) are a group of enzymes in our bodies which break down certain proteins, including collagen. MMPS are blocked by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPS). MMPS and TIMPS balance each other: imbalances have been implicated in conditions of […]
Radiotherapy for Dupuytren’s
Radiation treatment for Dupuytren’s disease has been performed since the advent of therapeutic radiation treatment. The effectiveness of radiation is reported as a preventative measure for early disease to prevent progression, not as a treatment for contracture. Although not widely embraced in the United States, there is a large European experience with radiotherapy of Dupuytren’s […]
Dupuytren’s and other fibroses
Dupuytren’s is a fibrotic disease, a fibrosis – one of many. Fibrosis, as a word, sounds exotic, but it is really just the medical name for scar. Although injuries come in many forms and can involve any structure, our bodies have a limited repertoire for reacting to injuries. The universal poultice our body’s healing process […]
Dupuytren’s: it’s not just the fascia.
Dupuytren’s contracture is a local manifestation of a systemic process, and although the palmar fascia is the usual focus, what happens in the hand is a regional process, affecting the skin and the fatty layer under the skin as well as the fascia: it appears to be something which brews between the skin and the […]
Alcohol and Dupuytren’s
Is there a relationship between drinking alcoholic beverages and the chance of having Dupuytren’s? This has been debated for years. The answer? Yes, according to the report “Dupuytren’s contracture and alcohol” (full text: https://dupuytrens.org/DupPDFs/1986_Bradlow_1148.pdf). The authors reviewed 143 patients with and without Dupuytren’s, checked their self described drinking patterns as well as the blood tests […]
Is Dupuytren’s an immune problem?
Is Dupuytren’s an autoimmune or an allergic condition? In some fibrotic diseases, such as endomyocardial fibrosis, tissues show activity of eosinphils. Eosinophils are normally found in small numbers in the bloodstream. They are part of the immune system and are abnormally involved in some medical conditions such as asthma. Eosinophils are filled with little bags […]
Similar genes found in Dupuytren’s and Peyronie’s
Dupuytren’s and Peyronie’s disease are believed to be related, to share a common genetic starting point. This has been an assumption, not hard fact: the genetic starting points of these conditions are not yet known, much less known to be the same. Doctors have been wrong on these issues in the past: in the 1800’s, […]
Xiaflex Pricing
Auxilium has moved closer to product availability of Xiaflex collagenase injection for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture by announcing the wholesale drug price: $3250.00 for a single treatment dose. For those who think that this seems high, consider this in perspective. There are many categories of pharmaceutical products. Most commonly available pharmaceuticals are classified as […]
Dupuytren’s Demographic Data
While researchers look through the microscope at the cellular biology of Dupuytren’s, surgeons look for clues using the fish eye lens of demographic observations. Who is at risk? What family, lifestyle, medication and medical condition issues affect the incidence and magnitude of Dupuytren’s? There is a long history of these questions and observations. A typical […]
