While surfing around the net for the latest possibilities for the medical treatment of chondromalacia I found something about IAGH injections. The doctor is claiming that he has done a bunch of experiments on bunnies (why not willing human subjects bedridden with our condition?) and found that by injecting them with this substance he was abled to induce cartilage repair. It would be great if someone who has tried Dr. Dunn's method coudl share their experience here. Anyways this is what I pulled from his website at
iagh dot com:
Allan R. Dunn, M.D. an Orthopedic Surgeon, discovered a method to regenerate articular cartilage in 1965. After many years of research on laboratory animals to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the IAGH method Dr. Dunn started to treat patients with arthritis in 1998.
Every patient who has come for IAGH treatment has moderate to advanced arthritis and they have been told they need a joint replacement. They want IAGH treatment in order to avoid total joint surgery. Most patients are happy with their results after IAGH treatment and no longer consider total joint surgery. Many patients return to normal activities.
Most IAGH patients have osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, ankles, shoulders, or elbows. Some IAGH patients have rheumatoid arthritis. All patients are placed on a protocol which includes intra-articular injections of HGH and an exercise program.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis require concurrent treatment with anti-TNFactor, such as Enbrel.
Questions patients frequently ask are answered here:
What is the success rate of IAGH treatment?
Based on significant measurable increase in motion, decrease of pain, and increase of joint space, the following percentages give some idea of the success rate:
* Ankles 95%
* Knees 70%
* Hips 50%
* Elbows 95%
* Shoulders 50%
* Thumbs 75%
What are the beneficial effects of IAGH treatment?
Decrease or complete abatement of pain, swelling, heat and stiffness in the treated joint. Measureable increase in the space between the bone surfaces. The bone on bone condition often improves and space re-appears - up to a 5 millimeters between the bones. Several patients have been followed over five (5) years, and their symptoms have not recurred. In several cases of osteoarthritis of the knee, the bow-legged deformity was reversed and the alignment of their knees has been restored to normal.
Do you need to continue receiving IAGH injections?
Usually no. Some patients require annual booster injections of IAGH.
What are the side effects of the IAGH treatment?
There are a few side effects and they are mild and reversible.
Three patients developed headaches which required no treatment.
Four patients developed mild swelling of the treated leg but required no treatment.
Four patients had a momentary medicinal taste in their mouth after the injection.
There has been no pain or swelling at the injection site.
There have been no infections.
No patient developed any signs or symptoms of acromegaly.
What happens if the treatment does not work?
Nothing. You are no different than when you started treatment. No patient was made worse by IAGH treatment. Nothing happens to your joint that would prevent a total joint replacement.
THE DISCOVERY OF IAGH
Allan R. Dunn, M.D. started research on the IAGH method in 1965. His goal was expressed in the Preface of his monograph, "The Stimulation of Growth of the Articular Cartilage of Adult Rabbits by Intra-Articular Growth Hormone" published in 1966.
Preface: "The idea of restoring diseased cartilage is probably ancient, but was re-awakened in my mind during the first months of medical school. As my knowledge increased, I recognized the need for an agent which provided, unlike intra-articular steroids, and various anti-inflammatory drugs, a definite reparative action on articular cartilage".
In his quest for a reparative agent, Dr. Dunn learned about acromegaly, a rare glandular disease which results from massive over-production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland located in the center of the brain. The huge amounts of growth hormone caused resumption of the growth of cartilage in all fingers and toes and also many side-effects. This inexplicable resumption of growth in adults prompted Dr.Dunn to find out how and why the growth resumed in adults. Dr. Dunn by performing numerous research studies was able to determine the mechanisms of re-growth of cartilage in adults. He then hypothesized that the injection of small amounts of growth hormone into joints would cause cartilage only in the injected joint to re-grow but would not cause side-effects. His hypothesis was correct, and he went on to develop the IAGH method.
WHAT IS rHGH?
rHGH is a pure hormone approved by the FDA. rHGH means rECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. Several well known pharmaceutical companies manufacture rHGH. rHGH is pure and free of all viruses such as Hepatitis, AIDS and HIV. rHGH has been manufactured for several years and is approved by the FDA for several uses, such as making short children grow to normal size. It has not yet been FDA approved for injection in joints, which is an "off-label" use.
WHAT IS "OFF-LABEL" USE OF A MEDICATION?
The use of rHGH to grow new cartilage in joints is an "off-label" use. This means that an FDA approved hormone can be used for other than the FDA approved uses if the physician believes the medication is beneficial for a patient. Dr. Dunn believes that IAGH injection is very beneficial for patients with arthritis and joint injuries.
MORPHO-ANGIOGENESIS
Morpho-angiogenesis is a unique benign action of growth hormone discovered by Dr. Dunn. He lectured on his discovery at Harvard University Medical School October 4, 2001. The IAGH method works because it utilizes this unique action of growth hormone. This action is a special growth hormone dependent form of angiogenesis which leads to articular cartilage regeneration. Regular angiogenesis is a benign process in which new blood vessels (tubes) develop and help produce new tissue. It occurs, for instance, after your skin is cut. In regular angiogenesis new tubes (new vessels) develop from existing tubes (blood vessels). Morpho-angiogenesis is different because it forms structures not tubes. These new structures have one special function - which is to produce stem cells followed by production of new cartilage cells. Because their anatomical structure or morphology of the vessels has changed, Dr. Dunn gave the process a special name, Morpho-angiogenesis. These new structures are similar to the structures which produce cartilage in the fetus and newborn child.
Therefore the process of morpho-angiogenesis causes rejuvenation of adult blood vessels to form fetal blood vessels.
FETAL SURGERY - produces scar-free healing!
Developmental Cascade
When you understand fetal healing, you will better appreciate the IAGH method. Scar does not occur in fetal surgery because healing follows the Developmental Cascade, where inflammation is absent. Surgeons would be over-joyed if all surgery in adults were scar-free. But this has never been accomplished because the results of fetal surgery have never been transposed into adults.
Sofe Tissue Cascade
The other form of healing is the Soft Tissue Cascade which is associated with inflammation. This cascade always found in adults is associated with inflammation and always produces scars, and scar (fibro-) cartilage.
IAGH Healing
IAGH healing follows the Developmental Cascade like fetal surgery. There is no inflammation. Healing with IAGH grows new cartilage with no scar (articular cartilage) All the other methods to repair cartilage follow the Soft Tissue Cascade and produce scar cartilage (fibrocartlage).
IAGH is the first instance where fetal healing has been transposed into the adult.
iagh dot com:
Allan R. Dunn, M.D. an Orthopedic Surgeon, discovered a method to regenerate articular cartilage in 1965. After many years of research on laboratory animals to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the IAGH method Dr. Dunn started to treat patients with arthritis in 1998.
Every patient who has come for IAGH treatment has moderate to advanced arthritis and they have been told they need a joint replacement. They want IAGH treatment in order to avoid total joint surgery. Most patients are happy with their results after IAGH treatment and no longer consider total joint surgery. Many patients return to normal activities.
Most IAGH patients have osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, ankles, shoulders, or elbows. Some IAGH patients have rheumatoid arthritis. All patients are placed on a protocol which includes intra-articular injections of HGH and an exercise program.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis require concurrent treatment with anti-TNFactor, such as Enbrel.
Questions patients frequently ask are answered here:
What is the success rate of IAGH treatment?
Based on significant measurable increase in motion, decrease of pain, and increase of joint space, the following percentages give some idea of the success rate:
* Ankles 95%
* Knees 70%
* Hips 50%
* Elbows 95%
* Shoulders 50%
* Thumbs 75%
What are the beneficial effects of IAGH treatment?
Decrease or complete abatement of pain, swelling, heat and stiffness in the treated joint. Measureable increase in the space between the bone surfaces. The bone on bone condition often improves and space re-appears - up to a 5 millimeters between the bones. Several patients have been followed over five (5) years, and their symptoms have not recurred. In several cases of osteoarthritis of the knee, the bow-legged deformity was reversed and the alignment of their knees has been restored to normal.
Do you need to continue receiving IAGH injections?
Usually no. Some patients require annual booster injections of IAGH.
What are the side effects of the IAGH treatment?
There are a few side effects and they are mild and reversible.
Three patients developed headaches which required no treatment.
Four patients developed mild swelling of the treated leg but required no treatment.
Four patients had a momentary medicinal taste in their mouth after the injection.
There has been no pain or swelling at the injection site.
There have been no infections.
No patient developed any signs or symptoms of acromegaly.
What happens if the treatment does not work?
Nothing. You are no different than when you started treatment. No patient was made worse by IAGH treatment. Nothing happens to your joint that would prevent a total joint replacement.
THE DISCOVERY OF IAGH
Allan R. Dunn, M.D. started research on the IAGH method in 1965. His goal was expressed in the Preface of his monograph, "The Stimulation of Growth of the Articular Cartilage of Adult Rabbits by Intra-Articular Growth Hormone" published in 1966.
Preface: "The idea of restoring diseased cartilage is probably ancient, but was re-awakened in my mind during the first months of medical school. As my knowledge increased, I recognized the need for an agent which provided, unlike intra-articular steroids, and various anti-inflammatory drugs, a definite reparative action on articular cartilage".
In his quest for a reparative agent, Dr. Dunn learned about acromegaly, a rare glandular disease which results from massive over-production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland located in the center of the brain. The huge amounts of growth hormone caused resumption of the growth of cartilage in all fingers and toes and also many side-effects. This inexplicable resumption of growth in adults prompted Dr.Dunn to find out how and why the growth resumed in adults. Dr. Dunn by performing numerous research studies was able to determine the mechanisms of re-growth of cartilage in adults. He then hypothesized that the injection of small amounts of growth hormone into joints would cause cartilage only in the injected joint to re-grow but would not cause side-effects. His hypothesis was correct, and he went on to develop the IAGH method.
WHAT IS rHGH?
rHGH is a pure hormone approved by the FDA. rHGH means rECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. Several well known pharmaceutical companies manufacture rHGH. rHGH is pure and free of all viruses such as Hepatitis, AIDS and HIV. rHGH has been manufactured for several years and is approved by the FDA for several uses, such as making short children grow to normal size. It has not yet been FDA approved for injection in joints, which is an "off-label" use.
WHAT IS "OFF-LABEL" USE OF A MEDICATION?
The use of rHGH to grow new cartilage in joints is an "off-label" use. This means that an FDA approved hormone can be used for other than the FDA approved uses if the physician believes the medication is beneficial for a patient. Dr. Dunn believes that IAGH injection is very beneficial for patients with arthritis and joint injuries.
MORPHO-ANGIOGENESIS
Morpho-angiogenesis is a unique benign action of growth hormone discovered by Dr. Dunn. He lectured on his discovery at Harvard University Medical School October 4, 2001. The IAGH method works because it utilizes this unique action of growth hormone. This action is a special growth hormone dependent form of angiogenesis which leads to articular cartilage regeneration. Regular angiogenesis is a benign process in which new blood vessels (tubes) develop and help produce new tissue. It occurs, for instance, after your skin is cut. In regular angiogenesis new tubes (new vessels) develop from existing tubes (blood vessels). Morpho-angiogenesis is different because it forms structures not tubes. These new structures have one special function - which is to produce stem cells followed by production of new cartilage cells. Because their anatomical structure or morphology of the vessels has changed, Dr. Dunn gave the process a special name, Morpho-angiogenesis. These new structures are similar to the structures which produce cartilage in the fetus and newborn child.
Therefore the process of morpho-angiogenesis causes rejuvenation of adult blood vessels to form fetal blood vessels.
FETAL SURGERY - produces scar-free healing!
Developmental Cascade
When you understand fetal healing, you will better appreciate the IAGH method. Scar does not occur in fetal surgery because healing follows the Developmental Cascade, where inflammation is absent. Surgeons would be over-joyed if all surgery in adults were scar-free. But this has never been accomplished because the results of fetal surgery have never been transposed into adults.
Sofe Tissue Cascade
The other form of healing is the Soft Tissue Cascade which is associated with inflammation. This cascade always found in adults is associated with inflammation and always produces scars, and scar (fibro-) cartilage.
IAGH Healing
IAGH healing follows the Developmental Cascade like fetal surgery. There is no inflammation. Healing with IAGH grows new cartilage with no scar (articular cartilage) All the other methods to repair cartilage follow the Soft Tissue Cascade and produce scar cartilage (fibrocartlage).
IAGH is the first instance where fetal healing has been transposed into the adult.
