Hi Shirley,
I don't know if you've seen this before or not, but I found it very interesting. It has long been suspected, (but not necessarily proven), that drusen are the result of an immune response, but unless my memory is playing tricks on me, this is the first research report I've seen, that comes close to pinning it down:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_o ... 387df42fa4
I've had drusen for many years, (I don't know how long, because when it was first discovered, about 25 years ago, I already had zillions of them). At any rate, they were there long before any indications of digestive system disorders became evident.
Apparently, it's the vitronectin, a plasma protein and extracellular matrix component, which is present in the retina pigmented epithelium, Bruch's membrane, and the underlying choriocapillaris, (and in drusen, of course), that is the target of the immune response:
http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/reprint/13/3/477.pdf
In case anyone is wondering why I addressed this topic to Shirley - she and I both have drusen, which are deposits in the Bruch's membrane, (below the retina pigmented epithelium), of the eye. Drusen diminish visual acuity, (especially under low-light conditions), and are linked with AMD, (Age-related Macular Degeneration). It appears to be just another autoimmune disease that we can add to our ever-increasing list.
Love,
Tex
P S I hope the trip back to Pennsylvania went smoothly.
Shirley - Research On Drusen As An Immune Response
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Shirley - Research On Drusen As An Immune Response
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