Bethesda, MD – Members of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) highlight a newly published article entitled Perspectives on Chronic Lyme Disease, as yet another example of the need for more dialogue between physicians, researchers and other health professionals regarding the existence and diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease. The American Journal of Medicine article ignores ILADS’s concerns regarding the serious health problems faced by chronic Lyme disease patients.
The opinion piece, authored by Philip J. Baker, cites research studies considered inconclusive by a number of health care professionals. The findings are based on a small number of subjects relative to the growing number of Lyme disease cases reported annually. Baker’s conclusions are based on trials of fewer than 225 patients. Yet the CDC reported 20,000 new cases of Lyme disease in 2007; the actual number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is estimated at 10 times this number.
ILADS has consistently challenged the peer review literature that fails to consider the severity of chronic Lyme disease. The Lyme disease patients enrolled in the two NIH sponsored trials mentioned in the article were ill an average of 4.7 years with a quality of life worse than patients with recent heart attacks and diabetes.
ILADS stresses the need for more comprehensive trials to examine the numerous innovative antibiotic options that have been used successfully in actual practice.
ILADS believes the medical community must come together to address the needs of patients who are suffering from the debilitating effects of chronic Lyme disease. Only by airing different points of view will the medical and scientific community reach a better understanding of controversial topics such as chronic Lyme disease.
“What we have here is a failure to communicate,” noted Cameron. “We must work together to find answers for Lyme patients who remain severely ill.”
For more information contact Pam Kahl. pam.kahl@verbal800.com 503.284.1534
2 Comments
You did a beautiful job with your video and with communicating the seriousness of a disease that is overlooked. My daughter has had chronic Lyme for 12 yrs, the first 10 which were misdiagnosed. She has been through the same struggles that you mentioned and it is heartbreaking to watch. Best of luck on your journey to good health
Thanks for trying to keep up. Patients who have CFS/ME can’t find doctors who actually know anything about this illness, thanks to the CDCs misinformation campaign, so it is heartening to hear of someone who has some interest in learning about it. I hope you take the time to read the comments following the WSJ stories. Many of them are very educational.