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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sandy Dawkins, 617-937-2571
[email protected]
Kira Edler, 617-937-2578
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Institutes of Health Study on Lyme Disease
Reveals
Significant Chronic Symptoms and Common Misdiagnosis
Columbia University and Lyme Disease Association Announce New Data at 6th
Annual Lyme Conference in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 28, 2005) – Columbia University and the Lyme
Disease Association today announced results from a National Institutes of
Health (NIH)-funded study, which found that 76 percent of women and 24
percent of men with chronic Lyme disease exhibited specific symptoms,
including pain similar to post surgical pain, fatigue comparable to Multiple
Sclerosis, and physical disability comparable to congestive heart failure.
Results were previewed at the 6th Annual Lyme Conference in Philadelphia,
PA.
In addition, the study, titled “Chronic Lyme Disease in Adults,” found that
adults, during the course of their Lyme disease, often showed
neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as mood problems, which could cause them to
be misdiagnosed as having a psychiatric disorder. Delay in diagnosis is
common and can contribute to a more entrenched disease, as well as
persistent or relapsing symptoms after treatment, such as severe pain,
fatigue, and physical disability. On average, people struggle for 1.2 years
before they are accurately diagnosed with Lyme disease.
“While much is known about early Lyme disease, very little is known about
chronic Lyme disease, despite its rising prevalence and disabling effects,”
said lead investigator Brian Fallon, M.D., associate professor of Clinical
Psychiatry, Columbia University, and director, Lyme Disease Research
Program, New York State Psychiatric Institute. “Continued research of this
disease is essential to bring about earlier detection and more effective
treatment.”
Another first-time presentation will be data from a placebo controlled
clinical trial studying the quality of life and outcomes of treatment. The
trial, “Results from Lyme Disease Clinical Trial: Effectiveness of
Retreatment on Health-Related Quality of Life,” was conducted by Dr. Daniel
Cameron, director, First Medical Associates, Mt. Kisco, New York, looked at
the quality of life and the outcomes of treatment. This study showed that
the quality of life of patients with recurrent Lyme disease is less than
other chronically ill populations, such as patients with chronic heart
failure, and that re-treatment with amoxicillin is helpful in treating
long-term symptoms of Lyme disease.
“The Lyme Disease Association is pleased to collaborate once again with
Columbia University to facilitate insightful discussions regarding the
latest research findings about this prevalent infectious disease that
significantly affects the lives of so many individuals and their families,”
said Pat Smith, president, Lyme Disease Association. “Coupled with the
soon-to-be opened Lyme Disease Research Center at Columbia University, this
flagship LDA event serves as a national resource, and fosters important
continued patient support.”
Other highlights at the conference include:
• “Infection biology of relapsing fever Borrelia: mechanisms of evasion and
persistence,” results from a study conducted by Sven Bergstrom, Ph.D.,
Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. This study
for the first time provides insight into how Lyme bacteria can stay in the
human body without causing an immune system response. The study revealed
that Lyme bacteria can persist in immune privileged sites that can be
triggered to be reactivated. Typical symptoms with Lyme disease besides
fever, are chills, headache, enlarged spleen and liver, meningitis and often
severe involvement of the central nervous system.
• ”Invasion of human tissue ex vivo by Borrelia burgdorferi,” a study
conducted by Dr. Joshua Zimmerberg from the NASA/NIH Center for Three
Dimensional Tissue Culture, National Institute for Child Health and Human
Development, showed that the lack of an adequate in vitro system for human
tissue infection by Lyme bacteria, is an obstacle to fully understanding how
the Lyme bacteria interact and adapt in the human body.
Sponsored by Columbia University and the Lyme Disease Association, the Lyme
Conference is expected to attract more than 250 physicians, health care
providers, advocates, and patients. Other speakers at the conference
include:
- Martin Fried, M.D., director, Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition,
Meridian Health Systems, JSMC, New Jersey: Co-infection with Bartonella &
other organisms
- Richard Brown, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; private consultation
practice in integrative psychopharmacology in New York City: Complementary
medicine strategies for the relief of Lyme-related symptoms
- Susan E. Little, DVM, Ph.D., professor and Endowed Chair Department of
Pathobiology Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State
University: Tick-borne diseases in southern U.S.
- Dr. Klaus-Peter Hunfeld, MPH, Institute of Medical Microbiology,
University Hospital of Frankfurt (SPEECH TOPIC NEEDED)
About Lyme Disease
Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States is
contracted by the bite from a bacteria-infected tick. A vector-borne disease
is transmitted from an infected individual to another individual by ticks or
mosquitoes, serving as intermediary hosts. In humans, infection with Lyme
disease bacteria can lead to problems related to the nervous system, heart,
joints as well as the brain. In humans, infection with Lyme disease bacteria
can lead to problems related to the nervous system, heart, joints as well as
the brain. Symptoms of Lyme disease vary for each individual patient, but
may include fever, chills, headache, backaches, fatigue, and a bull’s eye
rash. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than
220,000 to 240,000 Americans are infected with Lyme disease each year.
About the Lyme Disease Association
The Lyme Disease Association (LDA), an organization which expanded its focus
nationally about 5 years ago, is dedicated to Lyme disease education,
prevention, and raising research dollars. About ninety-six cents of every
dollar raised by the Lyme Disease Association has been used on programs. In
its search for a cure for chronic Lyme, the LDA has funded dozens of
research projects coast to coast, some of which are featured in
peer-reviewed journals, such as Journal of the American Medical Association,
JAMA and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Along with an
affiliate, Time for Lyme in Connecticut, the Lyme Disease Association is
providing the funds to open with Columbia University, an endowed Lyme
disease research center at Columbia in XXXX. For more information, please
visit http://lymediseaseassociation.org. |
