Randy & others,

I'm not claiming that the Dupuytren's itself is killing people, only that studies show that it (in it's stage 2 form) is linked somehow to increased mortality, particuliarly from cancer (The same is true of other familial diseases characterized by benign tumors, like neurofibromatis, tuberous sclerosis, and familial adenomatosis polyposis coli). And of course these are population studies - not everyone (or even most) with stage 2 DD will die earlier, but a greater proportion than of the non-DD or stage 1 DD population will. And that means that the average life expectency of DD'ers is less -by how much I don't know.

I refer you to the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, vol. 55, issue 1, to a write-up of a study undertaken in Reykjavik, Iceland on Dupuytren's and mortality. The study was prompted by the observation that there were a dearth of people at age 75 in Iceland with stage 2 DD.

I will readily admit that the subject needs more study, and that there are important unanswered questions. And believe me, I would love it if my concerns turn out to be unfounded. If some knowledgeable person can point to a flaw that would invalidate the conclusions in the studies, or my conclusions, I will buy them a bottle of their favorite wine and pay the shipping charges too. So come on you scientists, hit me with your best shot!

Brian asked what type of cancer is associated with DD. The study seems to show increased mortality from all types of cancer, with death by cancer accounting for 42% of the total increase in mortality. One puzzling or curious aspect of the study is that there seems to be no statistically meaningful difference in the INCIDENCE of cancer, only that more stage 2 DD'ers die from it once they get it. This could mean that cancer is more aggressive in DD'ers, or that it doesn't get diagnosed as soon.

Your point that we shouldn't lose sleep because there's nothing we can do about it is a good one. I'm not advocating despair, but I am advocating awareness. Perhaps if DD'ers are more alert to the danger, more cancers could be caught in time. And it does seem that if there were some way to organize, maybe something like a Dupuytren's Disiease Foundation, that there would be more awareness, more advocacy and more funds available for research. Maybe a DDF could have funded the Collegenase trials.

And finally, it just seems to me that just about everything there is to say about NA has been said. One more message in this forum about this doctor or that doctor isn't going raise awareness any more than it is already.

-MML

Micheal,
You know what... I am 19 young in many eyes and suffer from DC in both hands contractular in right hand and got cord in left thumb...

Now i sit here and read your post... All you want is a fight. And i can tell you what you can go and do.

Go outside and punch a wall or something.

People in the forum have ebough problems as it is and we really dont need to sit here and read your more than enough of verbal bull shit.

Speak soon gang Eddie ;)

Sean,

Thanks for the link to the study to the Uppsala study - it's really excellent, and I also recommend it to anyone who has the background to understand it (and has a medical dictionary at the ready).

I have to digest it more before I can comment much on it; but upon first perusal, I don't think that it actually does attribute the increase in mortality to factors such as smoking, diabetes, etc. They corrected for all that stuff. On the whole, I think it reinforces the Reykjavik study.

Best Regards, Michael

Yes he does. Sean provides much good information.

Thank you Sean.

Frances

I did not make the comment about Sean.

Someone else is clearly using the nickname Frances.