First European LDN Conference Report
Dr Tom Gilhooly

The first European Conference on Low Dose Naltrexone was held in Glasgow University on the 25th April 2009. It brought together some of the world’s most prominent clinicians involved with LDN prescribing to discuss this exciting treatment for immune related disorders. The delegates came from as far away as Japan, India and South Africa, keen to learn more about LDN and its many uses.

The conference was opened by Linda Elsegood from the LDN research Trust who outlined her own experience with MS and the great response she had to LDN. This very positive response led to her setting up the charity dedicated to supporting and encouraging research into LDN in the UK. Linda announced that the charity has raised £22,000 to date although has yet to find a research project to support.

Dr Tom Gilhooly gave a resume of the research on LDN published to date including animal and human studies. The first publication on low dose naltrexone was an animal study by Prof Ian Zagon from Penn State University in 1981. He is still active in LDN research and is currently preparing for publication some very exciting animal research on MS which confirms the efficacy of LDN in the animal model for MS. Significantly this study was funded by the MS Society of America giving a clear message to the only accredited funders in the UK.

Five disease areas have been subject to publications on LDN in human studies. The most recent was a ten patient pilot study on Fibromyalgia published in Pain Medicine in April 2009. This showed significant improvements in pain and mental health in six out of ten patients. The study of primary progressive multiple sclerosis by Maria Gironi from Milan was published in 2008 showing a reduction in spasticity and minimal side effects. The patient funded MS study from University of California on Dr Bruce Cree showed improvements in quality of life but has not yet been published.

The very impressive Crohn’s disease pilot study from Penn State was outlined as well a study showing improvements in quality of life among patients with haematological cancers. A study in irritable bowel syndrome has also been published showing positive effects of LDN.

Pharmacist Stephen Dickson gave a very interesting outline of the challenges he has faced in trying to supply LDN to patients in the UK. The saga of LDN capsules being impounded and then destroyed by Customs, as the MHRA decided that foreign imports were no longer allowed, was shared with a very interested audience. Despite the difficulties with dealing with the various regulatory bodies, he is committed to continuing to deliver this service to patients throughout the UK.

Dr Burt Berkson delivered a brilliant lecture on his treatment of cancer with LDN and intravenous alpha lipoic acid. Dr Berkson has published several remarkable case studies and he illustrates the results of treatment with PET and CT scan images which show the effect of this treatment on even very advanced cancers. He recently presented these cases to the National Institute of Cancer in America to great acclaim and is planning more extensive research soon.

Mr Joseph Wouk gave an impassioned performance where he described his own LDN experience which has resulted in almost complete disappearance of his symptoms. Joe has written a book about his experience called Google LDN which is available from Amazon and also online. Joe finished off his talk with a video of Pink Floyd which completed his presentation of “Saving Lives, One at a time”.

Dr Phil Boyle from the Galway Fertility Centre, described the incredible fertility work that is carried out at this centre which included LDN in many cases. Although predominately a fertility clinic, Phil has had requests for LDN from many patients with MS and other autoimmune conditions. He reassured the audience that LDN is safe in pregnancy having had fifty healthy babies born to mothers who took LDN throughout the pregnancy. Not only that but he feels LDN greatly improves pregnancy outcomes and reduces risk of prematurity. LDN is also useful in treating endometriosis and polycystic ovarian disease. Dr Boyle made the point that LDN works best when given alongside appropriate nutritional support including vitamin D and omega 3.

Dr Tom Gilhooly then outlined the progress with the Tyscore assay which measures immune activity which has now reached the stage where it is ready to be validated against other standard measures of oxidative stress. He also updated the conference on progress with the application for funding for the LDN MS study and on a new study on Autism which will be a joint effort between the Autism Treatment Trust and The Essential Health Clinic.

The conference concluded with an expert panel discussion where Dr Bert Berkson, Dr Bob Lawerence , Dr Pat Crowley and Skip Lenz a pharmacist from Florida, answered questions on LDN from the audience. There was a lively discussion and numerous interesting points raised including timing of LDN dose. The tradition of always dosing a night was called into question by both Stephen Dickson and Dr Tom Gilhooly, who find no difference in clinical outcomes with morning dosing but better compliance and less side effects. Skip Lenz felt that it had to be a night time dose as there was evidence of a greater endorphin peak at night. It was mentioned  that Prof Zagon felt that timing of dose was not important to clinical efficacy as long as the drug was only taken once daily.

A very successful first European conference concluded with the announcement that next years conference will also be held in Glasgow on 23rd and 24th April 2010.  It will include one day which will be purely medical/scientific and an open day similar in format to this conference. Next year’s conference will be addressed by the author of the first paper on LDN in 1981, Prof Ian Zagon.