Re: Mycoplasma Bacteria Tied To Chronic Illness

[Guest guest]

Rose-

I was positive and treated for mycoplasma and it IS tied to lyme.

The treatment suggested (www.IMMED.org) is

doxy 200-300mg/day

cipro 1500mg/day

zithro 500mg/day

clarithromycin 750-1000mg/day

it is recommended (by the above website) to do this treatment for 6wks, with

up to 6 cycles of treatment. (this would be 6 mos which is what I advocate to

people, NON-STOP).

Mycoplasma fermentan is the common one with lyme it seems.

You can be tested thru MD Labs, Mt. Laurel, NJ www.mdlab.com

sue in nj

sue massie

[Guest guest]

More info on mycoplasmas:

The Mycoplasmas

Introduction: The first of these curious organisms was isolated in 1898 by

the French scientists, Nocard and Roux from the pleural fluids of cattle

with an infectious disease called bovine pleuropneumonia. After the

discovery of Pleuropneumonia organisms, numerous other organisms resembling

them were reported. These organisms were called pleuropneumonia-like

organisms or PPLO. These organisms are now referred to as mycoplasmas, and

they are the smallest and simplest free-living bacteria lacking a rigid cell

wall. Certain Mycoplasma species are important pathogens in animal, plant

and insect species. In humans mycoplasmal infections have only recently been

associated with certain acute and chronic illnesses where they may function

as causative agents, cofactors or opportunistic infections that cause

patient morbidity. Although various Mycoplasma species are commonly found as

commensals in the oral cavity and at other superficial sites, certain

species can penetrate into blood and tissue and cause morbidity. For

example, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are common

inhabitants of the human genital tract but they can play an etiologic role

in pyelonephritis, pelvic inflammatory diseases and post-abortion and

post-partum fevers.

Mycoplasma interactions with host human systems: Certain Mycoplasma species

can either activate or suppress host immune systems, and they may use these

activities to evade host immune responses. Mycoplasma species are known to

secrete immune-modulating substances. For example, immune cells are affected

by spiralin, a well-characterized mycoplasmal lipoprotein that can stimulate

the in-vitro proliferation of human peripheral bloodns:

Mycoplasmas have been found at significantly higher incidence in blood and

tissue specimens obtained from patients with various chronic illnesses

compared to healthy controls. Since little is known about the involvement of

mycoplasmas in the pathogenesis of chronic illnesses, it remains uncertain

whether these findings indicate that some Mycoplasma species are causal

agents, cofactors, or opportunistic (superinfections) in patients with

immune disturbances.

Mycoplasmal Infections and Respiratory Illnesses: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a

common cause of upper respiratory infections, and severe asthma is commonly

associated with mycoplasmal infections. Recent evidence has shown that

certain mycoplasmas, such as Mycoplasma fermentans, are usually invasive and

found within respiratory epithelial cells. Also, Mycoplasma genitalium has

been found in respiratory tract specimens from patients with pneumonia.

Mycoplasmal Infections in Urogenital Diseases: Mycoplasma species are

commonly found in urogenital infections. The term " genital mycoplasmas " is

used to refer to Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma

genitalium. M. hominis and U.urealyticum have been associated with

spontaneous abortion, chorioamnionitis, neonatal pneumonia, chronic lung

disease, sepsis and meningitis. They have also been implicated in a wide

variety of urogenital diseases, such as pelvic inflammatory disease,

infertility, non-gonococcal urethritis, other genital infections,

pyelonephritis, Reiter's syndrome and peritonitis.

Mycoplasmal Infections in Rheumatic Diseases: Although the underlying causes

of rheumatic diseases are not known, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other

rheumatic illnesses may involve at least in part, infectious agents.

Mycoplasma species are known to be able to induce immune dysfunction and

autoimmune reactions that could be related to the development of rheumatoid

arthritis.

Mycoplasmal Infections in Cardiac Diseases: Mycoplasmal infections of the

heart have been reported in patients with different types of carditis. The

most common association was with M.pneumoniae infections. Endocarditis and

myocarditis associated with M.pneumoniae infections appear to be an

important cause of death in infected patients.

Mycoplasmal Infections in Autoimmune Diseases: Although pathogenic

mechanisms have not been established in autoimmune diseases, mycoplasmal

infections seem to play an important but not well understood role in these

diseases. Several characteristics of mycoplasmas make them attractive as

agents that may be responsible for triggering autoimmune responses. First

during their intracellular replication and release from host cells

mycoplasmas can capture antigens from the host cell surface and incorporate

them into their cell membranes. This can lead to immune responses against

these antigens and possibly autoimmune reactions. Second, mycoplasmal

antigens can mimic host antigens and trigger immune responses against these

antigens with resulting cross-reactivity against host antigens. Third,

mycoplasmas can cause apotosis of host cells with subsequent release of

normal host antigens.

Mycoplasmal Infections in Fatigue Illnesses: Chronic fatigue is the most

commonly reported medical complaint of all patients seeking medical care.

Because of the complex nature of these illnesses, many patients are often

diagnosed with multiple syndromes. Patients with CFS (Chronic Fatigue

syndrome) or FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) often have multiple mycoplasmal

infections and probably other chronic infections as well.

Antimicrobial Therapy for Mycoplasmal Infections: Once mycoplasmal

infections have been identified in subsets of chronic illness patients, they

can be successfully treated. The recommended treatments for diagnosed

mycoplasmal blood infections require long-term antibiotic therapy, usually

multiple 6-week cycles of doxycycline (200-300 mg/day), iprofloxacin (1,500

mg/day), azithromycin (500 mg/day) or clarithromycin (750-1,000 mg/day).

Clinical Testing for Mycoplasmal Infections: Until recently one of the most

difficult problems in detecting mycoplasmal infections was that the

available techniques, serological and culturing procedures, were relatively

insensitive for detecting intracellular infections.

Mycoplasma culture techniques can be highly specific for detection of some

mycoplasmal infections, but they are relatively insensitive because of

difficulty culturing various Mycoplasma species, and conventional

serological detection of mycoplasmal infections is quite difficult due to

the lack of humoral responses in most patients. The most reliable clinical

testing for mycoplasmal infections uses whole blood, blood leukocytes or

tissue biopsies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Another research

technique that has been used for intracellular infections is nucleoprotein

gene tracking. Though as specific, it is not as sensitive as PCR.

sue in nj

sue massie

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I totally agree with you. The previous discussion on mycoplasma back in the fall

of 2001 pointed this out. I was tested (unbeknown to me at the time) in early

September 2001. Never heard of this little booger either (never heard of Lyme

before being diagnosed), but it seems to be a common co-infection with those of

us with Lyme. I have it, but doesn't. I have the m. fermentans. Was put on

Doxy 100 mg 3 times a day for 6 months. Second test done at MDL.

Dr. Nicolson's article recently moved from the Gulf War Syndrome to the

connection with Lyme. I posted that article last fall, and will gladly email

anyone who wants it.

The article you posted was separately on this subject, concerning the history of

mycoplasmas, was also very informative. Thank you! So much to learn, isn't

there?

Love ya,

Rose

Love ya,

Rose

SSadlermas@... wrote: Rose-

I was positive and treated for mycoplasma and it IS tied to lyme.

The treatment suggested (www.IMMED.org) is

doxy 200-300mg/day

cipro 1500mg/day

zithro 500mg/day

clarithromycin 750-1000mg/day

it is recommended (by the above website) to do this treatment for 6wks, with

up to 6 cycles of treatment. (this would be 6 mos which is what I advocate to

people, NON-STOP).

Mycoplasma fermentan is the common one with lyme it seems.

You can be tested thru MD Labs, Mt. Laurel, NJ www.mdlab.com

sue in nj

sue massie

T.O.I.L. for Lyme!

T=Teach tolerance; O=Overcome ignorance; I=Initiate insurance reform; L=Labor

for Lyme literacy

*Websites*

http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/RoseWriter or

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/romarkaraoke/james.html

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I have a question about this treatment regimen. Are all of these meds taken at

once, or are they given one at a time, each 6 weeks? I am confused. Thanks

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/9/02 11:51:24 PM, NMcmu6937@... writes:

<< Sue,

I have a question about this treatment regimen. Are all of these meds taken

at once, or are they given one at a time, each 6 weeks? I am confused.

Thanks

>>

Sorry for the confusion....no! Just ONE medication is taken at a time...these

are the various ones that are used. For me in particular, I was treated with

Doryx (Brand name doxycycline, strongest), and took 400mg/day -- 2in the

a.m., 2 in the p.m.

I am now on zithromax with Artemesia for lyme/babesia.

suei n nj

sue massie