August 08, 2022
2 minutes of studying
Supply/Disclosures
Printed by:
Muñoz GE Microbiome dysregulation in autoimmune illnesses (immunomodulatory drugs): August 2022 replace. Offered at: Society of Rheumatology Nurses annual convention; August Three-6, 2022.
Disclosures: Muñoz reported no related monetary disclosures.
ORLANDO — Way of life modifications resembling train and an anti-inflammatory food regimen can enhance the well-being of sufferers being handled for autoimmune illnesses, a presenter on the 2022 Society of Rheumatology Nurses Convention mentioned.
George E. Munoz, MD, The medical director of American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates and medical director of the Oasis Institute, in Miami, mentioned how elements together with life-style, immune steadiness, genetics, environmental triggers and autoimmunity can have an effect on sufferers with autoimmune illnesses. .

“All of those elements have an effect on how our sufferers reply to biologic medicine,” he mentioned.
Munoz additionally coated how the “cross speak” between the microbiome and these elements can have an effect on sufferers taking all forms of rheumatology drugs. He added that genetic abnormalities might have associations with the microbiome and result in autoimmunity.
In line with Muñoz, integrative drugs approaches resembling food regimen, train, diet, contemplation, stress discount, sleep enhancement, botanicals and nutraceuticals can have an effect on the overall well-being of sufferers with these situations.
“Physicians are eager about drug remedy and lab outcomes,” he mentioned. “As nurses, I believe they’ve been [using integrative medicine] From the start.”
Balancing standard and integrative approaches stands out as the key to optimizing affected person outcomes, Muñoz added.
“It is about curing the entire individual, and never only a illness,” he mentioned. “It is not only a joint rely.”
That mentioned, Muñoz acknowledged that whereas many approaches to integrative drugs have grow to be extra exact lately, “they’re nonetheless a bit fuzzy.” He tried to supply a deeper perspective on how these approaches would possibly legitimately influence affected person outcomes.
For instance, he famous that sleep disturbances or elevated stress can improve cytokine ranges, resulting in pro-inflammatory reactions.
“Sleep disturbance is a danger issue for heart problems or all-cause mortality,” he mentioned.
Concerning genetic elements, Muñoz centered on the HLA-B27 system and its relationship to the microbiome as a doubtlessly vital issue for physicians and nurses to think about.
“Ask your sufferers if they’ve members of the family with psoriasis or IBD,” he mentioned.
Acquiring this data after which testing for HLA-B27 might permit a doctor to intervene earlier than any arthritic or spondyloarthritic exercise turns into obvious. This intervention might not essentially take the type of pharmacotherapy, however integrative approaches to enhance the microbiome and decrease inflammatory brokers.
“You probably have an anti-inflammatory food regimen, you should have much less probability of intestine dysbiosis,” he mentioned.
This intestine dysbiosis can have huge penalties in sufferers vulnerable to autoimmune illnesses, in accordance with Muñoz. He famous that when intestine micro organism cross the epithelium and transfer to locations the place they do not belong, they’ll activate macrophages, together with T cells and B cells.
“An inflammatory cascade has been unleashed,” he mentioned.
An vital solution to cut back this danger is with an anti-inflammatory food regimen. Muñoz advised that the Mediterranean diet sample is an effective place to begin.
“A variety of fiber and shade,” he mentioned. “That is what your microbiome desires to make it a cheerful microbiome.”
For attending physicians, Muñoz supplied a remaining level that hyperlinks standard approaches with integrative approaches.
“Conventional therapeutic interventions might not work as effectively until the affected person follows all different areas of life-style enchancment,” he mentioned.