What is Werlhof’s disease?
The autoimmune disease known as Werlhof’s disease is also called immune thrombocytopenia. It is named after the German physician Paul Werlhof. An immune thrombocytopenia is a disease in which the body mistakenly attacks its own blood platelets, the thrombocytes.
As a result, these are broken down more quickly, so that the clotting of the blood is severely restricted. The lower the number of thrombocytes in the blood, the stronger the tendency to bleed. Werlhof’s disease results in a reduced number of blood platelets, also known as thrombocytopenia.
Causes of Werlhof’s disease
Werlhof disease is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are diseases in which the body’s own immune system, which normally acts against external foreign substances, bacteria or viruses, attacks the own body. This can take on different dimensions – in the case of Werlhof’s disease the immune system attacks components of the blood, the blood platelets (thrombocytes).
These autoimmune diseases are also usually caused by an external or internal trigger. In the case of immune thrombocytopenia, however, this trigger is difficult to determine. It can be said, however, that Werlhof’s disease is conspicuously frequent in women after pregnancies or in cases of severe infections. The disease also occurs in childhood with a disproportionately high frequency, but heals after a few weeks.
Treatment of Werlhof’s disease
There are many different treatment options for Werlhof’s disease, depending on how much the platelet count is reduced.
- If the platelet count is only slightly lower, it is likely that no direct treatment will be given initially. However, the blood formation and thus the platelet values must be monitored regularly.
- If the platelet count is significantly below the standard value of 140,000 – 350,000 per microlitre, treatment with glucocorticoids or immunoglobulins may be sought.
- In addition, treatment is considered if there are other indications for treatment besides the reduced platelet count.
- In particularly acute cases, removal of the spleen may be the last possible option.
- Homoeoepathic treatments can also have a positive effect on the course of the disease.
Hormones such as cortisone or cortisol belong to the glucocorticoids. In addition to their anti-inflammatory effect, these also have the function of preventing the antibodies directed against the thrombocytes from being transported in the blood. As a result, they can no longer react against the thrombocytes, which means that the platelets can multiply again.
In addition, platelets have the function of reducing the tendency of the macrophages to attack the blood platelets. This also causes a reduced destruction of the thrombocytes. A disadvantage of glucocorticoids, however, is that they can only show their effect after several days of administration.
In acute treatment situations they cannot therefore show a rapid effect. Besides the glucocorticoids, there is also the possibility of immunoglobulins (antibodies). These have a quick and short-term effect.
They are therefore well suited for acute emergencies. The mode of action of immunoglobulins is that they prevent the destruction of thrombocytes directly in the spleen. Homeopathy is generally considered a controversial subject.
Despite all the discussions, healings or improvements in the course of a disease regularly occur after homeopathic treatments. Such a homeopathic treatment has already been carried out with Werlhof’s disease and has shown success. The homeopathic remedy that is said to have shown effects in Werlhof’s disease is the Arsencium album.
It is produced from the highly toxic white arsenic. It is usually used for gastrointestinal complaints. Werholf’s disease cannot be treated or prevented by certain foods.
However, eating vegetables and fruit in particular can support the body and the function of the blood. Among vegetables, green beans, spinach, broccoli and kale in particular have been shown to have a strengthening effect on the blood. Kiwi and oranges are considered valuable in the fruit category.
However, this balanced and targeted diet with fruit and vegetables does not promise an improvement or a solution to a blood disease on its own, it should only be seen as a support to general medical treatment. The effect of fruit and vegetables is especially due to their high vitamin C content.This has been proven to increase the efficiency and production of blood platelets (thrombocytes). In general, a diet rich in dietary fiber is recommended for Werlhof’s disease. In addition, excessive sport should be avoided for the time being, as aching muscles can also lead to bleeding within the musculature. Our next article provides you with further helpful information on this topic: Healthy diet
All articles in this series:
