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Brenner J, Olijslagers SHC, Crijnen YS, de Vries JM, Mandarakas MR, Titulaer MJ. Clinical Outcome Assessments in Encephalitis: A Systematic Review. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2024; 11:e200168. [PMID: 38086078 PMCID: PMC10758981 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Most patients with encephalitis experience persisting neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric sequelae in the years following this acute illness. Reported outcomes are often based on generic clinical outcome assessments that rarely capture the patient perspective. This may result in an underestimation of disease-specific sequelae. Disease-specific clinical outcome assessments can improve clinical relevance of reported outcomes and increase the power of research and trials. There are no patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) developed or validated specifically for patients with encephalitis. The primary objective of this systematic literature review was to identify PROMs that have been developed for or validated in patients with encephalitis. METHODS We performed a systematic review of the literature published from inception until May 2023 in 3 large international databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries). Eligible studies should have developed or validated a PROM in patients with encephalitis or encephalopathy. Methodologic quality was evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement Instruments study design checklist for PROMs. RESULTS We identified no disease-specific PROMs developed or validated for patients with encephalitis. We identified one study on the development and validation of a disease-specific PROM for hepatic encephalopathy, although this disease course is substantially different to that of patients with encephalitis. The methodologic quality of the included study was generally rated as "doubtful." We identified 30 PROMs that have been applied in 46 studies on encephalitis or encephalopathy, although not validated in these populations. The most commonly applied PROMs for measuring Health-Related Quality of Life were the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 and the Sickness Impact Profile. Emotional well-being was often assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Sporadically, PROMs were applied to address other aspects of outcome including daily functioning and sleep quality. DISCUSSION This systematic review confirms a critical gap in clinical outcome assessments in patients with encephalitis, failing to identify a validated measuring tool for detecting neurocognitive, functional, and health status. It is therefore essential to develop and/or validate disease-specific PROMs for the population with encephalitis to capture relevant information for patient management and clinical trials about the effects of disease that are at risk of being overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Brenner
- From the Department of Neurology (J.B., Y.S.C., J.M.V., M.R.M., M.J.T.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; and Department of Neurology (S.H.C.O.), Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sammy H C Olijslagers
- From the Department of Neurology (J.B., Y.S.C., J.M.V., M.R.M., M.J.T.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; and Department of Neurology (S.H.C.O.), Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Yvette S Crijnen
- From the Department of Neurology (J.B., Y.S.C., J.M.V., M.R.M., M.J.T.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; and Department of Neurology (S.H.C.O.), Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Juna M de Vries
- From the Department of Neurology (J.B., Y.S.C., J.M.V., M.R.M., M.J.T.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; and Department of Neurology (S.H.C.O.), Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Melissa R Mandarakas
- From the Department of Neurology (J.B., Y.S.C., J.M.V., M.R.M., M.J.T.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; and Department of Neurology (S.H.C.O.), Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten J Titulaer
- From the Department of Neurology (J.B., Y.S.C., J.M.V., M.R.M., M.J.T.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; and Department of Neurology (S.H.C.O.), Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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2
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Rebman AW, Yang T, Wang L, Marsteller JA, Murphy SME, Uriyo M, Aucott JN. Outpatient visits before and after Lyme disease diagnosis in a Maryland employer-based health plan. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:919. [PMID: 37644525 PMCID: PMC10466890 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09909-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insurance claims data have been used to inform an understanding of Lyme disease epidemiology and cost of care, however few such studies have incorporated post-treatment symptoms following diagnosis. Using longitudinal data from a private, employer-based health plan in an endemic US state, we compared outpatient care utilization pre- and post-Lyme disease diagnosis. We hypothesized that utilization would be higher in the post-diagnosis period, and that temporal trends would differ by age and gender. METHODS Members with Lyme disease were required to have both a corresponding ICD-9 code and a fill of an antibiotic indicated for treatment of the infection within 30 days of diagnosis. A 2-year 'pre- diagnosis' period and a 2-year 'post-diagnosis period' were centered around the diagnosis month. Lyme disease-relevant outpatient care visits were defined as specific primary care, specialty care, or urgent care visits. Descriptive statistics examined visits during these pre- and post-diagnosis periods, and the association between these periods and the number of visits was explored using generalized linear mixed effects models adjusting for age, season of the year, and gender. RESULTS The rate of outpatient visits increased 26% from the pre to the post-Lyme disease diagnosis periods among our 317-member sample (rate ratio = 1.26 [1.18, 1.36], p < 0.001). Descriptively, care utilization increases appeared to persist across months in the post-diagnosis period. Women's care utilization increased by 36% (1.36 [1.24, 1.50], p < 0.001), a significantly higher increase than the 14% increase found among men (1.14 [1.02, 1.27], p = 0.017). This gender difference was mainly driven by adult members. We found a borderline significant 17% increase in visits for children < 18 years, (1.17 [0.99, 1.38], p = 0.068), and a 31% increase for adults ≥ 18 years (1.31 [1.21, 1.42], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although modest at the population level, the statistically significant increases in post-Lyme diagnosis outpatient care we observed were persistent and unevenly distributed across demographic and place of service categories. As Lyme disease cases continue to grow, so will the cumulative prevalence of persistent symptoms after treatment. Therefore, it will be important to confirm these findings and understand their significance for care utilization and cost, particularly against the backdrop of other post-acute infectious syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison W Rebman
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ting Yang
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lin Wang
- Johns Hopkins HealthCare LLC, Glen Burnie, MD, USA
| | - Jill A Marsteller
- Johns Hopkins HealthCare LLC, Glen Burnie, MD, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Maria Uriyo
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - John N Aucott
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Malysh TY, Trishchynska MA, Panasyuk O. IMPACT OF CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LYME BORRELIOSIS ON PATIENTS' LIFE QUALITY. WIADOMOSCI LEKARSKIE (WARSAW, POLAND : 1960) 2023; 76:1943-1948. [PMID: 37898929 DOI: 10.36740/wlek202309107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim: To study the impact of clinical characteristics of the disease on the life quality of patients with Lyme borreliosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: Forty-eight (33 women and 15 men) patients with Lyme borreliosis aged 23-77 years and 48 individuals who did not have any somatic diseases that would impact the quality of life (experimental group) were examined. The MOS 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to study the quality of life. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS Results: According to the SF-36 questionnaire, patients with Lyme borreliosis had a significant decrease in scores for all indicators of physical health (р < 0.001), as well as impaired social (р < 0.001) and emotional (p = 0.027) functioning compared with healthy individuals. The deterioration of the quality of life indicators essentially depends on the clinical characteristics of the disease, namely its duration, the presence of Lyme arthritis, neuroborreliosis, cognitive disorders, multiple organ involvement, disease stage. CONCLUSION Conclusions: Lyme borreliosis and its certain clinical characteristics have a significant impact on the life quality of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Olena Panasyuk
- SHUPYK NATIONAL HEALTHCARE UNIVERSITY OF UKRAINE, KYIV, UKRAINE
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4
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Marvel CL, Alm KH, Bhattacharya D, Rebman AW, Bakker A, Morgan OP, Creighton JA, Kozero EA, Venkatesan A, Nadkarni PA, Aucott JN. A multimodal neuroimaging study of brain abnormalities and clinical correlates in post treatment Lyme disease. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271425. [PMID: 36288329 PMCID: PMC9604010 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infectious disease in the United States. Post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) is a condition affecting 10-20% of patients in which symptoms persist despite antibiotic treatment. Cognitive complaints are common among those with PTLD, suggesting that brain changes are associated with the course of the illness. However, there has been a paucity of evidence to explain the cognitive difficulties expressed by patients with PTLD. This study administered a working memory task to a carefully screened group of 12 patients with well-characterized PTLD and 18 healthy controls while undergoing functional MRI (fMRI). A subset of 12 controls and all 12 PTLD participants also received diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure white matter integrity. Clinical variables were also assessed and correlated with these multimodal MRI findings. On the working memory task, the patients with PTLD responded more slowly, but no less accurately, than did controls. FMRI activations were observed in expected regions by the controls, and to a lesser extent, by the PTLD participants. The PTLD group also hypoactivated several regions relevant to the task. Conversely, novel regions were activated by the PTLD group that were not observed in controls, suggesting a compensatory mechanism. Notably, three activations were located in white matter of the frontal lobe. DTI measures applied to these three regions of interest revealed that higher axial diffusivity correlated with fewer cognitive and neurological symptoms. Whole-brain DTI analyses revealed several frontal lobe regions in which higher axial diffusivity in the patients with PTLD correlated with longer duration of illness. Together, these results show that the brain is altered by PTLD, involving changes to white matter within the frontal lobe. Higher axial diffusivity may reflect white matter repair and healing over time, rather than pathology, and cognition appears to be dynamically affected throughout this repair process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherie L. Marvel
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kylie H. Alm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Deeya Bhattacharya
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Alison W. Rebman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Arnold Bakker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Owen P. Morgan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Jason A. Creighton
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Erica A. Kozero
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Arun Venkatesan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Prianca A. Nadkarni
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - John N. Aucott
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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Andreassen S, Solheim AM, Ljøstad U, Mygland Å, Lorentzen ÅR, Reiso H, Beyer MK, Harbo HF, Løhaugen GCC, Eikeland R. Cognitive function in patients with neuroborreliosis: A prospective cohort study from the acute phase to 12 months post treatment. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2608. [PMID: 35593485 PMCID: PMC9226812 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term cognitive problems after neuroborreliosis treatment remain a subject of debate. We have previously shown that cognitive problems are not present in the acute phase of neuroborreliosis, although fatigue is common. The aim of this study was to re-assess the same patient cohort and evaluate long-term outcomes. METHODS In this follow-up, we re-assessed 58 patients with well-characterized neuroborreliosis 12 months after completing treatment. The same protocol with eight subtests measuring attention and processing speed and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used to compare the results from the acute phase to 12 months post treatment. RESULTS We found no changes in attention or processing speed but a reduction in the level of fatigue (median score on FSS: 4.9 vs. 3.9, p < .001) from the acute phase to 12 months post treatment. CONCLUSION The patient group did not develop problems with attention or processing speed post treatment, while the level of fatigue decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silje Andreassen
- Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Marit Solheim
- Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Unn Ljøstad
- Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Åse Mygland
- Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Habilitation, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Åslaug Rudjord Lorentzen
- Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.,The Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tick-borne diseases, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Harald Reiso
- The Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tick-borne diseases, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Mona Kristiansen Beyer
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanne Flinstad Harbo
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Randi Eikeland
- The Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tick-borne diseases, Kristiansand, Norway.,Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
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6
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Bobe JR, Jutras BL, Horn EJ, Embers ME, Bailey A, Moritz RL, Zhang Y, Soloski MJ, Ostfeld RS, Marconi RT, Aucott J, Ma'ayan A, Keesing F, Lewis K, Ben Mamoun C, Rebman AW, McClune ME, Breitschwerdt EB, Reddy PJ, Maggi R, Yang F, Nemser B, Ozcan A, Garner O, Di Carlo D, Ballard Z, Joung HA, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Baumgarth N, Fallon BA. Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:666554. [PMID: 34485323 PMCID: PMC8416313 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.666554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated 476,000 cases per year. While historically, the long-term impact of Lyme disease on patients has been controversial, mounting evidence supports the idea that a substantial number of patients experience persistent symptoms following treatment. The research community has largely lacked the necessary funding to properly advance the scientific and clinical understanding of the disease, or to develop and evaluate innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the many outstanding questions raised into the diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment of Lyme disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms that trigger persistent disease, there is an urgent need for more support. This review article summarizes progress over the past 5 years in our understanding of Lyme and tick-borne diseases in the United States and highlights remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Bobe
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brandon L. Jutras
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Monica E. Embers
- Tulane University Health Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Allison Bailey
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mark J. Soloski
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - John Aucott
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avi Ma'ayan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Kim Lewis
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Alison W. Rebman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mecaila E. McClune
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Edward B. Breitschwerdt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | - Ricardo Maggi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Bennett Nemser
- Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Stamford, CT, United States
| | - Aydogan Ozcan
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Omai Garner
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zachary Ballard
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hyou-Arm Joung
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Albert Garcia-Romeu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Roland R. Griffiths
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nicole Baumgarth
- Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian A. Fallon
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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van Middendorp H, Berende A, Vos FJ, Ter Hofstede HHM, Kullberg BJ, Evers AWM. Expectancies as predictors of symptom improvement after antimicrobial therapy for persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. Clin Rheumatol 2021; 40:4295-4308. [PMID: 34031759 PMCID: PMC8463383 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-021-05760-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE Expectancies about symptom improvement or deterioration are reliable predictors of symptom progression and treatment outcomes (symptom resolution or symptomatic improvement) in many (non-)pharmacological studies and treatments. This study examined predictors of symptom improvement after antimicrobial therapy for persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, hypothesizing particularly pre-treatment expectancies regarding symptom improvement to be predictive. METHODS A predictive study was performed on pre-treatment and post-treatment individual characteristics, including expectancies, and physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from the PLEASE-trial comparing randomized 12-weeks of doxycycline, clarithromycin-hydroxychloroquine, or placebo following 2 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone. At end-of-treatment (14 weeks after trial start) and follow-up (52 weeks), complete data of 231 and 170 (of initial 280) patients with persistent symptoms temporally related to a history of erythema migrans or otherwise confirmed symptomatic Lyme disease, or accompanied by B. burgdorferi IgG or IgM antibodies, were examined through hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS In addition to pre-treatment HRQoL, pre-treatment expectancies regarding symptom improvement were consistently associated with stronger physical and mental HRQoL improvements at both end-of-treatment and follow-up (95% CI range: .09;.54, p < .01 to .27;.92, p < .001). Post-treatment expectancies regarding having received antibiotics vs. placebo was associated with more HRQoL improvement at end-of-treatment, but not at follow-up (95% CI-range 1.00;4.75, p = .003 to -7.34; -2.22, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that, next to pre-treatment functioning, patients' pre-treatment and post-treatment expectancies regarding improvement of persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease relate to a more beneficial symptom course. Expectancies of patients may be relevant to explain and potentially improve patient outcomes (e.g., by optimized communication about treatment success). TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01207739 (Registration date: 23-09-2010) Key Points • As there is currently no sufficient symptom resolution or symptomatic improvement for many patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, it is relevant to know which factors determine symptom progression and predict heterogeneity in treatment response. • Next to pre-treatment functioning, expectancies regarding symptom improvement and having received antimicrobial study medication are associated with a more beneficial symptom course after both shorter-term and longer-term antimicrobial treatment. • Expectancies are relevant to consider in treatment studies and may be useful in clinical settings to improve symptom course and treatment outcome (e.g., by optimized communication about treatment success).
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriët van Middendorp
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Anneleen Berende
- Department of Medicine, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Gelre Ziekenhuizen, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
| | - Fidel J Vos
- Department of Medicine, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hadewych H M Ter Hofstede
- Department of Medicine, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Jan Kullberg
- Department of Medicine, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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8
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Johnson L, Shapiro M, Stricker RB, Vendrow J, Haddock J, Needell D. Antibiotic Treatment Response in Chronic Lyme Disease: Why Do Some Patients Improve While Others Do Not? Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:healthcare8040383. [PMID: 33022914 PMCID: PMC7712932 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8040383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There is considerable uncertainty regarding treatment of Lyme disease patients who do not respond fully to initial short-term antibiotic therapy. Choosing the best treatment approach and duration remains challenging because treatment response among these patients varies: some patients improve with treatment while others do not. A previous study examined treatment response variation in a sample of over 3500 patients enrolled in the MyLymeData patient registry developed by LymeDisease.org (San Ramon, CA, USA). That study used a validated Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale to identify three treatment response subgroups among Lyme disease patients who remained ill: nonresponders, low responders, and high responders. The present study first characterizes the health status, symptom severity, and percentage of treatment response across these three patient subgroups together with a fourth subgroup, patients who identify as well. We then employed machine learning techniques across these subgroups to determine features most closely associated with improved patient outcomes, and we used traditional statistical techniques to examine how these features relate to treatment response of the four groups. High treatment response was most closely associated with (1) the use of antibiotics or a combination of antibiotics and alternative treatments, (2) longer duration of treatment, and (3) oversight by a clinician whose practice focused on the treatment of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mira Shapiro
- Analytic Designers LLC, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA;
| | - Raphael B. Stricker
- Union Square Medical Associates, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-415-399-1035; Fax: +1-415-399-1057
| | - Joshua Vendrow
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (J.V.); (J.H.); (D.N.)
| | - Jamie Haddock
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (J.V.); (J.H.); (D.N.)
| | - Deanna Needell
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (J.V.); (J.H.); (D.N.)
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9
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Rauer S, Kastenbauer S, Hofmann H, Fingerle V, Huppertz HI, Hunfeld KP, Krause A, Ruf B, Dersch R. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in neurology - Lyme neuroborreliosis. GERMAN MEDICAL SCIENCE : GMS E-JOURNAL 2020; 18:Doc03. [PMID: 32341686 PMCID: PMC7174852 DOI: 10.3205/000279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in Europe. A neurological manifestation occurs in 3–15% of infections and can manifest as polyradiculitis, meningitis and (rarely) encephalomyelitis. This S3 guideline is directed at physicians in private practices and clinics who treat Lyme neuroborreliosis in children and adults. Twenty AWMF member societies, the Robert Koch Institute, the German Borreliosis Society and three patient organisations participated in its development. A systematic review and assessment of the literature was conducted by the German Cochrane Centre, Freiburg (Cochrane Germany). The main objectives of this guideline are to define the disease and to give recommendations for the confirmation of a clinically suspected diagnosis by laboratory testing, antibiotic therapy, differential diagnostic testing and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Volker Fingerle
- German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM), Münster, Germany
| | - Hans-Iko Huppertz
- German Society of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ), Berlin, Germany.,German Society of Paediatric Infectology (DGPI), Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Hunfeld
- The German United Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL), Bonn, Germany.,INSTAND e.V., Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Bernhard Ruf
- German Society of Infectious Diseases (DGI), Berlin, Germany
| | - Rick Dersch
- German Society of Neurology (DGN), Berlin, Germany.,Cochrane Germany, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
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10
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Rebman AW, Aucott JN. Post-treatment Lyme Disease as a Model for Persistent Symptoms in Lyme Disease. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:57. [PMID: 32161761 PMCID: PMC7052487 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been observed in clinical practice that a subset of patients with Lyme disease report a constellation of symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and musculoskeletal pain, which may last for a significant period of time. These symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, have been reported throughout the literature in both prospective and population-based studies in Lyme disease endemic regions. The etiology of these symptoms is unknown, however several illness-causing mechanisms have been hypothesized, including microbial persistence, host immune dysregulation through inflammatory or secondary autoimmune pathways, or altered neural networks, as in central sensitization. Evaluation and characterization of persistent symptoms in Lyme disease is complicated by potential independent, repeat exposures to B. burgdorferi, as well as the potential for co-morbid diseases with overlapping symptom profiles. Antibody testing for B. burgdorferi is an insensitive measure after treatment, and no other FDA-approved tests currently exist. As such, diagnosis presents a complex challenge for physicians, while the lived experience for patients is one marked by uncertainty and often illness invalidation. Currently, there are no FDA-approved pharmaceutical therapies, and the safety and efficacy of off-label and/or complementary therapies have not been well studied and are not agreed-upon within the medical community. Post-treatment Lyme disease represents a narrow, defined, mechanistically-neutral subset of this larger, more heterogeneous group of patients, and is a useful definition in research settings as an initial subgroup of study. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature on the diagnosis, etiology, risk factors, and treatment of patients with persistent symptoms in the context of Lyme disease. The meaning and relevance of existing patient subgroups will be discussed, as will future research priorities, including the need to develop illness biomarkers, elucidate the biologic mechanisms of disease, and drive improvements in therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison W Rebman
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - John N Aucott
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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11
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Touradji P, Aucott JN, Yang T, Rebman AW, Bechtold KT. Cognitive Decline in Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2019; 34:455-465. [PMID: 29945190 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acy051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patient-reported cognitive complaints are common in those with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Objective evidence of cognitive impairment in this population is variable in part due to methodological variability in existing studies. In this study, we sought to use a systematic approach to characterizing PTLDS based on the most current consensus diagnosis. We further examined PTLDS-related cognitive decline, operationalized as a significant decline in cognitive test performance relative to premorbid cognitive ability. METHOD We enrolled a case series of 124 patients with confirmed PTLDS defined by Infectious Diseases Society of America-proposed case definition. Cognitive functioning was evaluated using standardized neuropsychological measures. RESULTS The majority (92%) of participants endorsed some level of cognitive difficulty, yet 50% of the sample showed no statistically or clinically significant cognitive decline, 26% of the sample evidenced significant cognitive decline on measures of memory and variably on measures of processing speed, and 24% of the sample were excluded from analyses due to suboptimal test engagement. CONCLUSIONS The current findings are consistent with the literature showing that the most robust neurocognitive deficit associated with PTLDS is in verbal memory and with variable decline in processing speed. Compared to population normative comparison standards, PTLDS-related cognitive decline remains mild. Thus, further research is needed to better understand factors related to the magnitude of subjective cognitive complaints as well as objective evidence of mild cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Touradji
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John N Aucott
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ting Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alison W Rebman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathleen T Bechtold
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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12
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Explaining the long-term impact of chronic Q fever and Q fever fatigue syndrome on psychosocial functioning: A comparison with diabetes and the general population. J Psychosom Res 2019; 121:37-45. [PMID: 31006533 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.03.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE After Q fever infection, 1-5% of patients develop chronic Q fever, while about 20% develops Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS). This study examines whether these two conditions have a long-term impact on psychosocial functioning compared to the general population and patients with type 2 diabetes (DM) and investigate which mediating factors influence outcomes. METHODS Cross-sectional study was performed, measuring psychosocial functioning including quality of life (depression and satisfaction with life), anxiety, social functioning and relationship satisfaction in patients with proven or probable chronic Q fever or QFS, 5-9 years after acute Q fever infection. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyse differences between groups, correct for confounders and identify relevant mediators (fatigue, physical or cognitive functioning, illness perception). RESULTS Quality of life and social functioning of chronic Q-fever and QFS patients was significantly lower and anxiety significantly higher compared to DM patients and the general population. The impact was completely mediated by fatigue in both Q fever groups. Physical and cognitive functioning and illness perception partially mediated the impact. CONCLUSIONS Health care workers need to be aware of the long-term impact of chronic Q fever and QFS on psychosocial functioning of patients in order to provide proper guidance.
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13
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Puppo C, Préau M. [Prevention and management of Lyme disease: On complexity and the need to take into consideration various psycho-social factors]. SANTE PUBLIQUE 2019; S1:65-71. [PMID: 31210492 DOI: 10.3917/spub.190.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper aims to present a psychosocial analysis on the scientific literature concerning Lyme disease prevention and care. METHODS We performed a literature review on Lyme disease, especially on prevention and care, both through physicians and patients' perspective. RESULTS A total of 31 documents were included in our literature review. Literature shows that the acceptability of preventive measures, which is relatively poor, has to be associated with the behavioral nature, and not medical one, of these interventions. Moreover, the Lyme disease care is characterized by a condition of uncertainty - especially because of the controversy about the existence of the chronical form and the treatment to adopt - provoking important consequences on patient's quality of life. That is why the acknowledgment of profane knowledge's legitimacy is strongly demanded by patients, especially through the research of an empowered condition in the relation with the physicians. In this sense, the construction of a solid relation between caregiver and patient seems to be essential. CONCLUSIONS The invisibility of most symptoms, the patient's subjective experience and the social representations about Lyme disease show the need and the contribution of a psychosocial approach, in order to better understand the life experience of this uncertain condition and, more in general, of this disease.
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14
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Rebman AW, Bechtold KT, Yang T, Mihm EA, Soloski MJ, Novak CB, Aucott JN. The Clinical, Symptom, and Quality-of-Life Characterization of a Well-Defined Group of Patients with Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. Front Med (Lausanne) 2017; 4:224. [PMID: 29312942 PMCID: PMC5735370 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The increased incidence and geographic expansion of Lyme disease has made it the most common vector-borne infection in North America. Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) represents a subset of patients who remain ill following standard antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease. The spectrum of symptoms and their impact on quality of life remain largely unexplored among patients with well-documented PTLDS. Objective To characterize a case series of patients with well-documented PTLDS compared to a sample of healthy controls. Methods Sixty-one participants met the proposed case definition for PTLDS. Twenty-six healthy controls had neither a clinical history of Lyme disease nor current antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Participants with PTLDS and controls were evaluated by physical exam, clinical laboratory testing, standardized questionnaires, and a 36-item current symptom list. Results Compared to controls, participants with PTLDS reported significantly greater fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and depression (Fatigue Severity Scale: 50.0 ± 10.6 vs. 19.8 ± 8.6; Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire: 13.7 ± 8.3 vs. 0.8 ± 1.9; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: 10.1 ± 4.7 vs. 4.1 ± 2.1; Beck Depression Inventory-II: 15.1 ± 7.7 vs. 2.2 ± 3.2; p < 0.001 for each), and significantly lower quality of life (SF-36 Physical Component Score: 33.9 ± 9.7 vs. 55.1 ± 6.2; Mental Component Score: 42.9 ± 10.1 vs. 54.2 ± 5.4; p < 0.001 for each). Nineteen non-PTLDS-defining symptoms were found to be significantly more severe among participants with PTLDS than controls, including sleep difficultly and visual complaints. Initial delayed or misdiagnosis was characterized in 59.0% of participants with PTLDS, and 32.2% had abnormal vibratory sense. Conclusion Although physical exam and clinical laboratory tests showed few objective abnormalities, standardized symptom questionnaires revealed that patients with PTLDS are highly and clinically significantly symptomatic, with poor health-related quality of life. PTLDS patients exhibited levels of fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, and depression which were both clinically relevant and statistically significantly higher than controls. Our study shows that PTLDS can be successfully identified using a systematic approach to diagnosis and symptom measurement. As the prevalence of PTLDS continues to rise, there will be an increased need for physician education to more effectively identify and manage PTLDS as part of integrated patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison W Rebman
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kathleen T Bechtold
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ting Yang
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Erica A Mihm
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mark J Soloski
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Cheryl B Novak
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - John N Aucott
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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15
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Lyme Disease. Infect Dis (Lond) 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6285-8.00046-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Abstract
The prognosis following appropriate antibiotic treatment of early or late Lyme disease is favorable but can be complicated by persistent symptoms of unknown cause termed posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), characterized by fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive complaints that persist for 6 months or longer after completion of antibiotic therapy. Risk factors include delayed diagnosis, increased severity of symptoms, and presence of neurologic symptoms at time of initial treatment. Two-tier serologic testing is neither sensitive nor specific for diagnosis of PTLDS because of variability in convalescent serologic responses after treatment of early Lyme disease. Optimal treatment of PTLDS awaits more precise understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in this illness and future treatment trials.
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Morris G, Berk M, Walder K, Maes M. The Putative Role of Viruses, Bacteria, and Chronic Fungal Biotoxin Exposure in the Genesis of Intractable Fatigue Accompanied by Cognitive and Physical Disability. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:2550-71. [PMID: 26081141 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9262-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Patients who present with severe intractable apparently idiopathic fatigue accompanied by profound physical and or cognitive disability present a significant therapeutic challenge. The effect of psychological counseling is limited, with significant but very slight improvements in psychometric measures of fatigue and disability but no improvement on scientific measures of physical impairment compared to controls. Similarly, exercise regimes either produce significant, but practically unimportant, benefit or provoke symptom exacerbation. Many such patients are afforded the exclusionary, non-specific diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome if rudimentary testing fails to discover the cause of their symptoms. More sophisticated investigations often reveal the presence of a range of pathogens capable of establishing life-long infections with sophisticated immune evasion strategies, including Parvoviruses, HHV6, variants of Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma, and Borrelia burgdorferi. Other patients have a history of chronic fungal or other biotoxin exposure. Herein, we explain the epigenetic factors that may render such individuals susceptible to the chronic pathology induced by such agents, how such agents induce pathology, and, indeed, how such pathology can persist and even amplify even when infections have cleared or when biotoxin exposure has ceased. The presence of active, reactivated, or even latent Herpes virus could be a potential source of intractable fatigue accompanied by profound physical and or cognitive disability in some patients, and the same may be true of persistent Parvovirus B12 and mycoplasma infection. A history of chronic mold exposure is a feasible explanation for such symptoms, as is the presence of B. burgdorferi. The complex tropism, life cycles, genetic variability, and low titer of many of these pathogens makes their detection in blood a challenge. Examination of lymphoid tissue or CSF in such circumstances may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerwyn Morris
- Tir Na Nog, Bryn Road seaside 87, Llanelli, SA15 2LW, Wales, UK
| | - Michael Berk
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.,Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Ken Walder
- Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Michael Maes
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. .,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Borgermans L, Goderis G, Vandevoorde J, Devroey D. Relevance of chronic lyme disease to family medicine as a complex multidimensional chronic disease construct: a systematic review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FAMILY MEDICINE 2014; 2014:138016. [PMID: 25506429 PMCID: PMC4258916 DOI: 10.1155/2014/138016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease has become a global public health problem and a prototype of an emerging infection. Both treatment-refractory infection and symptoms that are related to Borrelia burgdorferi infection remain subject to controversy. Because of the absence of solid evidence on prevalence, causes, diagnostic criteria, tools and treatment options, the role of autoimmunity to residual or persisting antigens, and the role of a toxin or other bacterial-associated products that are responsible for the symptoms and signs, chronic Lyme disease (CLD) remains a relatively poorly understood chronic disease construct. The role and performance of family medicine in the detection, integrative treatment, and follow-up of CLD are not well studied either. The purpose of this paper is to describe insights into the complexity of CLD as a multidimensional chronic disease construct and its relevance to family medicine by means of a systematic literature review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth Borgermans
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Geert Goderis
- Department of General Practice and University Hospitals Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Vandevoorde
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dirk Devroey
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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19
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Johnson L, Wilcox S, Mankoff J, Stricker RB. Severity of chronic Lyme disease compared to other chronic conditions: a quality of life survey. PeerJ 2014; 2:e322. [PMID: 24749006 PMCID: PMC3976119 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Overview. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) indicators are widely used in the general population to determine the burden of disease, identify health needs, and direct public health policy. These indicators also allow the burden of illness to be compared across different diseases. Although Lyme disease has recently been acknowledged as a major health threat in the USA with more than 300,000 new cases per year, no comprehensive assessment of the health burden of this tickborne disease is available. This study assesses the HRQoL of patients with chronic Lyme disease (CLD) and compares the severity of CLD to other chronic conditions. Methods. Of 5,357 subjects who responded to an online survey, 3,090 were selected for the study. Respondents were characterized as having CLD if they were clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease and had persisting symptoms lasting more than 6 months following antibiotic treatment. HRQoL of CLD patients was assessed using the CDC 9-item metric. The HRQoL analysis for CLD was compared to published analyses for the general population and other chronic illnesses using standard statistical methods. Results. Compared to the general population and patients with other chronic diseases reviewed here, patients with CLD reported significantly lower health quality status, more bad mental and physical health days, a significant symptom disease burden, and greater activity limitations. They also reported impairment in their ability to work, increased utilization of healthcare services, and greater out of pocket medical costs. Conclusions. CLD patients have significantly impaired HRQoL and greater healthcare utilization compared to the general population and patients with other chronic diseases. The heavy burden of illness associated with CLD highlights the need for earlier diagnosis and innovative treatment approaches that may reduce the burden of illness and concomitant costs posed by this illness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennifer Mankoff
- Human-Computer Interaction Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Raphael B. Stricker
- LymeDisease.org, Chico, CA, USA
- International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Fallon BA, Petkova E, Keilp JG, Britton CB. Ongoing discussion about the US clinical Lyme trials. Am J Med 2014; 127:e7. [PMID: 24462018 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Fallon
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY; Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Eva Petkova
- Division of Biostatistics, New York University, New York, NY; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University, New York, NY
| | - John G Keilp
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY; Neuropsychology Laboratory, Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
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