Frequency of wegs flares/relapses

[Pete]

Does anyone have any info about how frequently wegs patients experience flares or relapses? This is a point of curiousity for me. Has any research been done on this question, and if you are aware of any, would you please let me know?

Thanks,

Pete
dx 1/11

[Dirty Don]

I don't know that there is a frequency stat for WG flares recurring...just listening on here, there's a wide variety of minor relapses and times. As for chances of relapse, there will be forever a 50-50 chance of relapse according to studies and my doc. That does not mean it will happen, but there's that statistic.

[Sangye]

I seem to recall Dr Seo telling me that 50% will flare in the first 5 years, though it may have been less than 5 years. Nearly all will flare at some point. Flares aren't necessarily severe and are easier to control the earlier you catch them.

[drz]

I got the impression that flares are very common shortly after initial diagnosis, but the longer you stay in a remission, the chances seem to decrease somewhat until you make some change in treatment. When you start tapering your meds, I think chances of flare increase unfortunately. If the flares are caught early and treated right away, they are less likely to result in the severe damage, like many had during their initial presentation, if you were diagnosed fairly late cause the doctors had no clue what diasease you had.

[Pete]

Thanks, folks. I thought randomly spaced flares
might be the case. I've been off cytoxan for a month now and on methotrexate for three weeks. So far, so good. Hope to play golf in the morning.

Be well
Pete

[Dirty Don]

Hope to play golf in the morning.

Glad you're able to play...I find golf the great equalizer: I'll never be as good as I'd like, but it needs so much focus that I forget where I am and just play...swing well!

Don