Re: Re: Clinical Alert: Chronic Lyme Not Helped by Intensive ABX....

[Guest guest]

New Evidence on Lyme Disease Supports Need for Extended Treatment Therapy

Evidence-based article in prestigious infectious disease journal supports

ILADS treatment recommendations.

Bethesda, MD (_PRWEB_ (http://www.prweb.com/) _ Doctors, patients and

insurance companies need to know that the IDSA guidelines are flawed.

_ (http://www.prweb.com/) ) June 15, 2007 -- The International Lyme and

Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) today announced that, for the first time,

evidence supporting the ILADS position on the treatment of Lyme disease has been

published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID), considered one

of the most prestigious publications in the field of infectious diseases and

microbiology. It is the first time that evidence supporting the ILADS

position has ever been published in an American infectious disease journal.

The duration of treatment for Lyme disease has been a contentious issue

among physicians. The fact that two major medical associations - the Infectious

Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the International Lyme and Associated

Diseases Society (ILADS) - have released conflicting guidelines for the

diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease has fueled the controversy.

" Publication of our recommendations about the most effective treatment for

Lyme disease in a journal like CID is a milestone for ILADS, " said Dr. Raphael

Stricker, president of ILADS. " Doctors, patients and insurance companies need

to know that the IDSA guidelines are flawed. "

Difficult to Diagnose

A primary factor in the Lyme disease controversy is that the disease can be

difficult to diagnose. Not every patient suffers from the typical

" bull's-eye " rash and joint inflammation, considered classic symptoms of Lyme

disease

that is transmitted by the bite of a tiny tick. ILADS research indicates

that only 50%-60% of patients typically recall a tick bite; the rash is

reported

in only 35% to 60% of patients; and joint swelling typically occurs in only

20% to 30% of patients. And given the prevalence of over-the-counter

anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen, the joint inflammation is often

masked.

Many patients with Lyme disease will continue to experience a variety of

symptoms, even after the treatment recommended by IDSA. Some of these patients

go on to develop multiple nonspecific symptoms, making it very difficult to

diagnose chronic Lyme disease.

One reason for this difficulty is that Borrelia burgdorferi, the

corkscrew-shaped bacteria that causes the disease, has an unusual genetic

makeup. This

allows the bacteria to screw its way into a variety of cells and evade the

body's immune system. According to ILADS research, the Lyme bacteria invades

multiple tissues and is able to assume a dormant state much like tuberculosis.

This can make treatment much more difficult.

Extended Therapy

Based on extensive clinical evidence, ILADS maintains that extended

antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease is sometimes necessary, particularly in

later

disease that is more difficult to eradicate. Studies have shown that Borrelia

burgdorferi can persist after antibiotic treatment. In particular, studies

conducted in animals - including mice, dogs and monkeys - indicate that the

corkscrew-shaped bacteria can persist after treatment is completed. Persistence

in humans has been confirmed by culture or molecular testing in at least a

dozen studies.

" Science in this area is still evolving, " according to Stricker. " We don't

have all the answers and it is too early to adopt treatment strategies that

assume we do. Meanwhile, doctors need flexible treatment approaches, " he said.

The article describing the ILADS position on treatment of Lyme disease will

be published in the July 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

About ILADS

ILADS is a nonprofit, international, multidisciplinary medical society

dedicated to the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Lyme disease and

associated tick-borne infections. ILADS promotes understanding of tick-borne

diseases

through research and education and strongly supports physicians and other

health care professionals dedicated to advancing the standard of care for

tick-borne diseases.

For more information contact Pam Kahl at 503.284.1534.

In a message dated 11/25/2008 3:12:40 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

janet.ring@... writes:

I think we need to take this with a " grain of salt " for the moment. The

controlled studies are based on statistics and " significant difference. "

There's no taking into account anything out of their set bell curve. Also,

the standard medical establishment has been trying to limit Lyme treatment

and say it's not an epidemic.

The study states the following:

>the data showed no significant difference in the percentage of patients who

received either antibiotic treatment or

> placebo who felt their symptoms had improved, worsened, or stayed the

same:

> a little more than one-third felt better, about one-third

> felt worse, and slightly less than one-third felt the same.

OK, so a little more than one-third felt better. I would bet they were in

the group receiving the antibiotic treatment. There's a chance that the

particular treatment was less effective for some Lyme patients (or they were

getting the placebo), which would account for those who felt the same. Those

who felt worse could have been herxing (that's what I think). So there goes

the 100% accuracy of the study. I'm planning on taking this info to my

doctor and see what she says.

Janet in California

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

- L. Baum

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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