Healthspan Immunology

09/11/2026

As a specialist, I see zebras (complex rare disorders) every day. Many of my patients have insufficient workup if they come from the traditional medicine route, or irrelevant testing if they come from the functional medicine route. Not always. There are a few "unicorn" doctors in traditional medicine, and a few in functional medicine. 90% of the time, complex patients are underserved. I think the problem is a LACK OF CURIOSITY. And an inability to deal with uncertainty. And most of all, INSURANCE PRESSURE. I expect better. Even though I'm an Immunologist, I will order the DEXA scan. I will ask about hormones. Patients ask me, "Why didn't my P*P do this?" I shrug, but I know the answer.😖😠If you are a primary care doctor with a deep and insatiable CURIOSITY, if you enjoy complex cases, please reach out! Chronius Health is a great start. I am impressed with Chronius P*P workup of complex disorders. www.chroniushealth.com

09/08/2026

Great article by Dr. Kara Wada, a famous complex disorders specialist and highly regarded colleague.

Fragmented care leaves the sickest patients connecting their own dots. See why complex chronic illness needs a clinician holding the telescope, not a lens.

09/01/2026

Thanks to for this very cool tidbit of knowledge! How did I not know that the CLIFT test to confirm lupus uses a protozoan? ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) is best measured by immunofluoresence (IFA). When ANA immunofluorescence test comes back positive — especially with a homogeneous or peripheral/rim pattern, the patterns most associated with anti-dsDNA antibodies — many labs automatically reflex to the Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test (CLIFT) to confirm and characterize anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies.

Why Crithidia luciliae specifically?

Crithidia luciliae is a HEMOFLAGGELATE PROTOZOAN!!!! with a unique organelle called the KINETOPLAST— a mitochondrion-derived structure packed with a dense network of circular dsDNA, completely free of histones or other nuclear proteins.

That histone-free, pure-dsDNA structure is exactly what makes it such a good substrate:

It gives a clean, isolated dsDNA target with no other nuclear antigens (histones, RNP, Sm, etc.) around to cause cross-reactivity or confusion. https://www.euroimmunblog.com/excellent-performance-of-the-automated-clift-evaluation-by-the-europattern-suite/

08/29/2026

08/27/2026

ARUP is clearly superior to Mayo Clinic when it comes to autoimmune encephalitis panel. Why aren't more people using ARUP?

08/27/2026

A podcast from ARUP lab scientists on autoimmune neurologic disease testing

Join Dr. Brian Jackson, adjunct professor of pathology at the University of Utah and a medical director at ARUP Laboratories, as he interviews some of the top minds in diagnostic laboratory medicine. Listeners are privy to personal anecdotes and creative insights into important challenges facing lab...

08/22/2026

Great leader, PANS/PANDAS aware! Excited for the future - better understanding of PANS/PANDAS and related disorders.

Dr. Gaitanis is set to begin his role on August 23, 2026.

08/21/2026

This is a must-read from the Neuroimmune Foundation!

Updated 2023 PANS and PANDAS guides for clinicians on diagnosis and treatment of these inflammatory brain disorders.

07/21/2026

Sample IVIG orders. IVIG is typically dosed 0.4-0.8 g/kg for immune deficiency, and for PANS/PANDAS/other neuroimmune disorders, "high dose" is typically required. High dose is 1.5-2 g/kg. Begin infusion at 0.8 mg/kg/min.
30 minutes after beginning the infusion, if no adverse reaction occurs, increase infusion to 1.7 mg/kg/min.
Infuse over 7 hours (for high dose; shorter duration for regular dosing)
and continue at this rate until remaining volume is infused. This may take two days for high dose. Patients receive 500-1000mL of IV fluids prior to infusion, as well as acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. Sometimes we add a dose of oral prednisone prior to infusion.