Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

It’s a “Gene-Environment-Immune Complex”…How Mycotoxins Impact Lyme, Autism, and PANS

https://www.ledamedical.com/so/34NiwbJuo?

It’s a “Gene-Environment-Immune Complex”….How Mycotoxins impact Lyme, Autism and PANS

Mycotoxins from mold can invade the body thru exposure to contaminated food and water, respiratory inhalation of spores and through contact with mucous and cutaneous membranes.

Decades of data link mycotoxins as a neurotoxic and immunotoxic inducing agent. In fact, several studies that examined the neurocognitive impact of mycotoxin exposure in children show a higher incidence of neurotoxic mold in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Additionally, children exposed to mold for more than two years show a statistically significant drop of 10 IQ points when compared with their mold free counterparts. Extensive exposure in both children and adult show increased pain syndromes, movement disorders like Chorea and Parkinson’s disease as well as neurocognitive disorders akin to dementia and delirium.

Knowing the neurological and immunological effects of mycotoxins from mold exposure, how does it affect those with behavioral, neurological disorders like ASD, autoimmune encephalopathy and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS)?

Multiple studies link pathobiology of mold/mycotoxins specifically to Autism and other symptoms that mimic Autism like PANS and autoimmune encephalopathy. Mycotoxins play a gene-environment interaction that is thought to contribute to dysfunctional progression of neurodevelopment.

The mycotoxins once in the body elucidates a strong immune reaction leading to significantly elevated cytokines. These cytokines permeate throughout the body and often cross over the blood brain barrier. Those exposed can experience increased GI permeability or “leaky gut”, elevated oxidative stress responses and inflammation. This appears to stem in the gut where the mycotoxins provoke a reactive oxygen species release in the epithelial cells which line the inner gut wall. The mycotoxins will colonize in the GI system, disrupting the healthy normal flora. As a result of this disruption, a chronic inflammatory response occurs.

Many studies show the link between chronic gut inflammation and neurological and psychological ailments like depression, anxiety, OCD all common symptoms of ASD, neuro-Lyme and PANS/Autoimmune Encephalopathy.

Other studies link mycotoxins to increased autoimmune disorders and development of autoantibodies in the brain. When this occurs, the nervous system is inflamed leading to significant cognitive struggles, brain fog, mood disorders and involuntary tics and movement disorders. This is the typical progression of Autoimmune Encephalopathy, PANS and some components of ASD.

So how does this connect with Lyme?

Applying the inflammatory, immune and GI effects of mycotoxin illness to Lyme simply adds another layer of symptom severity. Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses are known to provoke an inflammatory cytokine response. Borrelia Burgdorferi specifically provokes anti-neuronal antibodies which can travel peripherally causing brain inflammation. The inflammatory response of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme can further trigger leaky gut and blood brain barrier permeability. More circulating cytokines begets increased inflammation and the vicious cycle continues.

Any significant trigger of chronic inflammation in the body can trigger neuroinflammation and leaky gut. Most individuals can weather the storm with intact immune systems. Those unfortunate to house genes linked to ASD, methylation dysfunction and/or those afflicted with Lyme, Mold or both struggles to clear the inflammation, compounding the symptomatic response.

A study by DeSantis and others studied 52 Autistic children compared to 58 neurotypical children. Results showed the ASD children had a significantly higher mycotoxin load, specifically Ochratoxin A. 

Many integrative providers believe in the Gut-Brain and inflammation connection. This study like many others support this theory and what we as providers see in clinical practice.

We welcome you to contact our office 212-288-8832 for more information and to schedule your one-on-one evaluation and treatment option appointment with one of our clinicians.

LEDA MEDICAL

Written by Somer DelSignore NP

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Category:

Autism, Lyme, Mold, PANS

Can Lyme Disease Trigger An Autoimmune Disease?

https://danielcameronmd.com/can-lyme-disease-trigger-an-autoimmune-disease/

CAN LYME DISEASE TRIGGER AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?

elderly man with Lyme disease and autoimmune disease taking his temperature

An increasing number of studies indicate that Lyme disease may ignite an autoimmune reaction in some individuals or symptoms may mimic an autoimmune disease. In their report, “Lyme arthritis presenting as adult-onset Still’s disease,” researchers describe the first known case of Lyme disease triggering Adult-Onset Still’s Disease, an auto-inflammatory condition that can impact the entire body (systemic disease).

By 

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is often thought to be an autoimmune disease, but is, in fact, a systemic auto-inflammatory condition, believed to be caused by an over-reactive immune response to an infection, such as Lyme disease. As Cimmino points out, both diseases share several clinical characteristics.¹

Still’s disease can cause “a triad of high fever, salmon-colored nodular rash and arthritis and/or arthralgia,” explains Ocon in the British Medical Journal.² Lyme disease can also present with fevers, atypical rashes and arthritis and/or arthralgias.

Both conditions were first identified in children. Still’s disease was initially considered a severe version of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), while Lyme disease symptoms were originally attributed to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Lyme disease and autoimmune diseases

A growing number of studies indicate that Lyme disease may trigger an autoimmune response in some individuals or symptoms may mimic an autoimmune disease.

The authors suggest, “[Lyme disease] could be a great mimicker of other autoimmune diseases like DM.”

Case Presentation: Still’s disease

A 61-year-old man presented with a “complaint of intermittent spiking fevers, night sweats, generalised malaise, as well as a history of erythematous circular rashes on his right upper extremity,” writes Ocon.²

He was diagnosed clinically with Lyme disease and received two 10-day courses of doxycycline, but continued to suffer from fevers, chest pressure, a dry cough, along with malaise and arthralgia.

The man was subsequently diagnosed with Still’s disease, as he met the criteria with a fever greater than 102.2°F for at least 1 week; a characteristic rash; a white cell count of at least 10,000; lymphadenopathy, and elevated liver transaminases.

He was treated successfully with intravenous steroids and anakinra (a humanised interleukin-1 receptor antagonist), which is used to modulate the immune system.

Author’s Takeaway:

“For the first time, we describe a case of AOSD precipitated by Lyme disease.”

“Lyme disease is a rare trigger of adult-onset Still’s disease, likely mediated via immune system inflammatory activation.”

“AOSD presented with a rare manifestation of haemorrhagic pericarditis and tamponade.”

“We believe that the immunological response to Lyme disease may have triggered AOSD via a hyper-activated immune system.”

UPDATED: July 1, 2021

Related Articles:

Could Lyme disease be another infection associated with Guillian Barre syndrome?

Lyme disease manifests as autoimmune disorder, Sjogrens Syndrome

References:
  1. Cimmino MA, Trevisan G. Lyme arthritis presenting as adult-onset Still’s disease. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1989;7(3):305-308.
  2. Ocon AJ, Kwiatkowski AV, Peredo-Wende R, Blinkhorn R. Adult-onset Still’s disease with haemorrhagic pericarditis and tamponade preceded by acute Lyme disease. BMJ Case Rep. 2018;2018:bcr2018225517. Published 2018 Aug 16. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-225517
  3. Cross A, Bouboulis D, Shimasaki C, Jones CR. Case Report: PANDAS and Persistent Lyme Disease With Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: Treatment, Resolution, and Recovery. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 2;12:505941. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.505941. PMID: 33603684; PMCID: PMC7884317.

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Category:

Bartonella, Lyme, research, Viruses

How Lyme Disease Can Affect Your Vision

https://www.lymedisease.org/padula-lyme-affects-eyes/

TOUCHED BY LYME: How Lyme disease can affect your vision

Aug. 4, 2021

Dr. William Padula is a noted expert on how Lyme and other tick-borne diseases can affect the eyes.

According to his website, the following can all be symptoms of tick-borne illness: blur, visual fatigue, double vision, headaches associated with visual activities, light sensitivity, losing place when reading, seeing words appear to double or become double when reading, and more obscure problems often not associated with vision such as difficulty with balance, spatial orientation, memory, comprehension, feeling of being overwhelmed by being in a busy environment, and sensitivity to sound.

The website notes: “The cause of the visual symptoms is because the tick-borne disease affects visual processing in the brain.”

Recently, Dr. Padula has discovered two eye-related biomarkers for tick-borne infection. (A biomarker is something that can be found by examination or testing that indicates the presence of a particular disease or condition.)

In an article published by Healio, Dr. Padula reports:

“My colleagues and I have demonstrated that the presence of a hazy, white ring of peri-papillary ischemia around the optic nerve — especially in children or adults younger than 60 years who would not be expected to have ischemic changes — is associated with tick-borne infection. One way that spirochetes hide from the immune system is by building up protective biofilms. We believe that these biofilms clog the narrow capillary vessels just around the perimeter of the optic nerve, blocking blood flow.”

Dr. Padula recommends that optometrists and ophthalmologists who observe this condition in patients who also have convergence insufficiency or focusing should rule out the possibility of tick-borne infection.

In the same article, Dr. Padula also discusses something called the Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) test. He says that abnormal results on this test strongly indicate tick-borne disease.

As we in the Lyme community know well, it often takes a long time for people to get properly diagnosed with tick-borne infections. If eye doctors become alert to these biomarkers, that could speed up the process considerably.

Click here to read the article on Healio.

Click here to visit Dr. Padula’s website

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s Vice-president and Director of Communications. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org.

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Category:

Biofilm, Eye Issues, Lyme

Amendments to Increase Lyme Disease Funding Passes House

https://lymediseaseassociation.org/uncategorized/breaking-lyme-news-today/

Breaking Lyme News

The Lyme Disease Association is pleased to announce that Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) has been successful in having 2 bipartisan amendments to increase Lyme disease funding by $8 M pass the House today. The Amendments are part of the House consideration of Labor HHS and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

One amendment enables the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to redirect funds from one of its accounts to its CDC’s Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Disease account for Lyme disease activities.  The other directs the  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to spend $5 million of its funding on the LymeX Innovation Accelerator—a new public-private partnership with the Steven & Alexander Cohen Foundation which would spur innovative research through a prize competition. The Lyme disease amendments were co-sponsored by a group of bipartisan Lyme Caucus members.

Congressman Smith also had $10 M increase in autism funding pass the House today.

Next stop Senate

Language to enhance research for Lyme disease research which was supported by bipartisan members of the Lyme caucus was also contained in the Report language of the HHS Labor Appropriations more than a week ago. The Lyme Disease Association Inc. had input into the development of that language.

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**Comment**

It is my opinion that nothing will be done at the governmental level regarding Lyme/MSIDS for numerous reasons, one of which is that they very well could be behind it all.  Also, CDC employees own patents on nearly every aspect surrounding Lyme/MSIDS.  See: ConflictReport  Even agency scientists have exposed a long litany of corruption.  For yet another example, go here.

These conflicts make them unfit to make any decisions about public health.

Call me crazy, but I never stand behind a horse or cow that’s kicked me once let alone hundreds of times.
The CDC/NIH/IDSA has done nothing but kick patients and the doctors who dare treat them for over 40 years.

Time for a CDC/NIAID/FDA walkaway movement.

Category:

Activism, Lyme

ILADS Conference Update

ILADS-Orlando-Header2-copy-1024x282

Registration is Now Open for the 22nd Annual Scientific Conference

Save $250 with Early-Bird Pricing — Through August 27, 2021
 

Reasons to Attend the ILADS Annual Conference
1. Connect in-person with today’s headline-makers such as Nicole Baumgarth, DVM, PhD; Dan Kastner, MD, PhD; Pierre Kory, MD, MPA; Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH and others.

2. Engage one-on-one with experts on topics vital to your patient’s health and well-being such as COVID, autoimmunity and chronic inflammation.

3. Learn the tools for early diagnosis and treatment of COVID variants and how to provide individualized care for our patient base.

4. Hear critical developments presented that will require interpersonal interactions, formally and informally.

5. Relax and reconnect with colleagues at the spacious Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, ranked #1 on Conde Nast 2019 Reader’s Choice Awards.
 

COVID is with us to stay, as we’ve learned from the recent uptick in cases caused by the Delta variant. Even so, after over a year of limited physical business interaction, the pandemic has confirmed the unparalleled value of live events.

We are carefully monitoring the situation in Florida and are cautiously optimistic that things will improve by the time our event takes place in October.

Re-energize your education, your network and your spirit in Orlando. Get out your suitcase and let’s get back together!  

Conference schedule:  https://www.ilads.org/ilads-conference/ilads-annual-conference-2021-3/#

To Register:  https://www.ilads.org/ilads-conference/ilads-annual-conference-2021-3/

Category:

Activism, Lyme