CO-CURE: NOT: New Lyme research article - Columbia University Medical Center res

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Wed, 27 May 2009 12:19:04 -0700

" Margaret Holt _uncmom59_

(uncmom59)

Co-Cure Moderator " <_co-cure_moderator_

(co-cure_moderator) >

NOT: New Lyme research article - Columbia University Medical

Center researchers

 

Dear Friends of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center:

 

**Even though I was treated for Lyme disease, I still have health

problems. Could they be related to Lyme disease? What is causing the

persistent

neurocognitive problems I have after getting Lyme disease?**

 

These are two common questions we see on the *Ask the Doctor* feature of

our web site. Research carried out by Dr. Fallon and colleagues at the

Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center addresses these issues. The

results of this study are published in this month*s issue of the Archives of

General Psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009;66(5):554-563). Using

functional brain imaging technology, Lyme patients with persistent Lyme

encephalopathy were compared to healthy controls. We wanted to know whether

patients

with persistent cognitive complaints after having been treated for Lyme

disease have brains that function differently than healthy people. In

particular, we wanted to know whether the primary problem is in poor blood flow

to

areas of the brain (as had been seen in later stages of syphilis) or

whether the problem is in diminished brain nerve cell metabolism. The primary

result from this study was that the Lyme patients had many areas of decreased

brain blood flow and metabolism. However, because the areas of reduced

blood flow and metabolism were largely overlapping in location, we concluded

that the primary deficit relates to the nerve cell functioning rather than

the blood supply. This study confirms that patients with persistent

cognitive deficits after getting Lyme disease do indeed have objective

functional

brain deficits. Future studies need to determine whether these areas of

abnormality seen on brain PET imaging can actually distinguish patients with

Lyme disease from patients with other neurologic diseases, such as Lupus,

HIV encephalopathy, or even Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If shown to be a

specific test that is able to distinguish one disease from another, then this

imaging tool will be a useful biomarker of differential diagnosis.

 

**Is it possible to have Lyme disease or to have had it in the past and

have a negative blood test?**

 

Yes, it is possible. Even though existing lab tests are informative, no

existing test is 100% sensitive (identifying all true cases as positive).

It is important that we keep searching for better diagnostic tests. Our

future research plans include studies to evaluate several diagnostic Lyme

tests in development. We will be going to community sites in New York, New

Jersey, Connecticut and possibly other states to invite people who have had

Lyme recently or have had it in the past and still have symptoms to

participate in this study. Please check our web site in the next few months

for

updates on places and dates.

 

Also, please visit our web site at _www.columbia-lyme.org_

(http://www.columbia-lyme.org) to view updates on our responses to *Ask the

Doctor* and

*Recent Lyme and TBD abstracts* for current Lyme research. Since Lyme

season is upon us, CDC*s instructions on tick removal are especially

helpful.(FAQ #3047).

 

If you are able, consider joining our community of supporters for Lyme

research by making a donation to the Center

_http://columbia-lyme.org/donate.html_ (http://columbia-lyme.org/donate.html) .

 

Your interest in Lyme and tick-borne diseases and the work of our Center

is greatly appreciated.

 

 

Sincerely

 

Brian A. Fallon, MD

Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center

Columbia University Medical Center

 

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