Categories for For Physicians

A Twist On Lyme: The Challenge of Diagnosing European Lyme Neuroborreliosis

Lyme neuroborreliosis is a tick-borne illness with central and peripheral nervous system manifestations. Clinical features and methods for accurate diagnosis differ across world regions owing to different causative Borrelia species. The importance of these distinctions is highlighted by a 12 year old Canadian girl who acquired Lyme neuroborreliosis in Europe.

Biology and neuropathology of dementia in syphilis and Lyme disease

It has long been known that Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum can in late stages of neurosyphilis cause dementia, cortical atrophy, and amyloid deposi- tion. The occurrence of dementia, including subacute presenile dementia, was also reported in association with Lyme disease caused by another spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi.

Study supports chronic Lyme

The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, is an extracellular microbe that causes persistent infection despite the development of strong immune responses against the bacterium.

The Klempner Article

The recent article in the NEJM, “Two Controlled Trials of Antibiotic Treatment in Patients with Persistent Symptoms and a History of Lyme Disease,” by Klempner, et. al., provides some interesting data, but the proper interpretation of this data is of little relevance to both clinical practice and guidelines related to chronic Lyme disease.

Insurers hit on Lyme disease

Alan Stone of Chelmsford, who suffers from Lyme disease along with his daughter Angela, 14, says insurance companies are afraid of the high expenses that can come from long-term treatments.