Mar 16, 2018
When the participant was first born, she was in the NICU for 15 days due to issues with her liver and body temperature regulation. Over the course of the next few months, she had several infections. At 10 months of age, her energy levels were very low, she had trouble feeding, and started to show signs of jaundice. At this time, she was diagnosed with giant cell hepatitis, which was treated with steroids. She was also found to have an autoimmune blood disorder that leads the body to destroy platelets (autoimmune thrombocytopenia) and red blood cells (autoimmune hemolytic anemia), which has been treated with IVIG and prednisone.
At age 1, she began to have frequent fevers, swelling in her limbs, severe diarrhea, and vomiting episodes. She was found to have enteritis with anti-enterocyte antibodies, which was also treated with steroids, and nephrotic syndrome.
Despite a very thorough workup, the cause of her autoimmune condition has not been found. She is currently treated with CellCept and prednisone.
If this participant sounds like you or someone you know, please contact us!