Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

UMD Collaborates on New Department of Defense Grant to Study Tick-borne Infection using 3-D Models of Human Blood Vessels

https://globallymealliance.org/news/umd-collaborates-on-new-dept-of-defense-grant-to-study-tick-borne-infection-using-3-d-models-of-human-blood-vessels/

close up image of blood vessels

An exciting new project by GLA’s Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Utpal Pal, Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland was announced. This project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, will study tick-borne disease bacteria and how they leave blood vessels to enter the tissue and spread through the body.

Dr. Pal will team up with Dr. Peter Searson of Johns Hopkins University and Dr. J. Stephen Dumler of Uniformed Services University, to build three-dimensional models of blood vessels and to examine endothelial cell interactions with Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which cause serious illnesses transmitted by tick bites. All three researchers bring high-level expertise to a complex question and will use a sophisticated model system not previously used, to answer important questions about pathogen spread.

Full press release here & below:   https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/19/10/p14638103/umd-collaborates-on-new-department-of-defense-grant-to-study-tick-borne-infection-using-3-d-models

UMD Collaborates on New Department of Defense Grant to Study Tick-borne Infection using 3-D Models of Human Blood Vessels

October 22, 2019 
Models provide an opportunity to study how pathogens move in and out of the blood like never before, with implications for soldier and civilian health.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (PRWEB) October 22, 2019

Utpal Pal, professor in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland, is serving as one of three collaborators on a new innovative grant from the Department of Defense, using 3-D bioengineered models of human blood vessels for the first time to examine how tick-borne pathogens move in and out of blood and tissue to cause infection and diseases like Lyme and Anaplasmosis. The team is combining expertise in tick-borne infectious diseases and bioengineering to study mechanisms that cannot be adequately captured using animal models, thus providing new targets for vaccine development and therapeutic options to protect our troops and civilians alike.

Pal is partnering with principal investigator Dr. John Dumler at the Uniformed Services University and co-investigator Peter Searson at John Hopkins University.

“The story starts out with the reports that came out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health documenting the substantial increases in tick-borne diseases in the United States since 2004, and there is evidence that many are growing even faster than reported,” says Dumler.

Between 2004 and 2016, there was a reported four-fold increase in recorded tick-borne diseases, with 80% of vector-borne diseases that affect Americans actually being tick-borne and not mosquito carried. This phenomenon affects everyone in areas where ticks are prevalent, but our troops are disproportionately affected due to their frequent travel across the country and outdoor training exercises. Due to this upswing in tick-borne illness in soldiers and civilians, the United States Department of Defense started the Tick-Borne Disease Research Program as part of their Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, charged with supporting research in tick-borne illness.

The Borrelia burgdorferi pathogen that causes Lyme disease and the Anaplasma phagocytophilum pathogen that causes Anaplasmosis are two prominent pathogens carried by a common tick in the United States, the Ixodes scapularis or black-legged tick (deer tick). Dumler is an expert in Anaplasma and has been working in tick-borne infection for forty years, while Pal is a world-renowned expert in Borrelia. Both Anaplasma and Borrelia, however, have many unknowns in their infection processes, specifically in determining how pathogens move from the skin to the blood and then from the blood to their target tissues and organs like the brain. These processes are profoundly distinct for each organism as each feature different lifestyles, but it is nearly impossible to do this work effectively in animal models.

“Humans, as incidental hosts, are a big part of the disease process in the life cycle of Borrelia,” says Pal. “How the pathogen enters the vasculature is a critical event because the pathogen is still only present in a small number. And you can’t study this using animal models. Human tissues are too different, and Borrelia can’t cross the blood-brain barrier in rodent models the way it can in humans. Dr. Searson’s models allow us to study these molecular events in a human model for the first time.”

Searson is quite well known for developing tissue-engineered models of human blood vessels and systems, particularly for the brain. With recent advances in stem cell technology, these models have become increasingly complex, with the ability to differentiate cells in a way that couldn’t be done before. While 2-D models have been used in the past to examine pathogen dissemination, this is the first time that 3-D vascular structures have been used in tick-borne infection to study how pathogens are transported by the blood and vascular system in real time, and how they can enter organs and tissues like the brain.

“Right now, there is absolutely no effective model to study this process,” says Pal, “so these 3-D models are essential.” Dumler adds, “Being able to study pathogen dissemination in a configuration that mimics what happens in a real tissue will give a much better picture about what happens in real life.”

The researchers are able to visualize this process in real time, tracking pathogens with fluorescent dyes that are easily viewed under the microscope and recorded for processing and analysis. With Searson’s expertise in creating tissue-engineered models, and Pal and Dumler’s extensive expertise in the biology of tick-borne infections, they are able to manipulate the models with different types of cells and structures to visualize how transfer in and out of the bloodstream occurs.

Everyone involved is excited about the collaboration and the future of this work.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with world experts in tick-borne infections on such an important problem,” says Searson.

Pal adds,

“This grant is just the beginning to create a unique program that will use these models to help us to address many questions in tick-borne diseases that are unanswered.”

This work is funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s Tick Borne Disease Research Program, United States Department of Defense Award #W81XWH-19-2-0045.

 

Category:

Activism, Anaplasmosis, Lyme, research

Unraveling Spirochetes

https://globallymealliance.org/unraveling-spirochetes/

image of spirochete

by Jennifer Crystal

Lyme disease is a complex illness, not just because it manifests in the body in different ways, but because it is also very difficult to diagnose. The Lyme disease bacterium itself, Borrelia burgdorferi, is a high-functioning organism called a spirochete. It doesn’t react to medication as other illnesses do. People have trouble pronouncing it. In this article, I will unravel the mystery of the spirochete: what it is, how it works, what it feels like in an infected person, and how patients can best obliterate it.

Spiro-whats?

I have heard every possible pronunciation of spirochete, from speer-o-shet, to spy-ro-shet-tees, like agricultural machetes. The correct pronunciation is spy-ro-keet. The name is derived from the shape of the bacteria, which is spiral like a corkscrew. Another spiral-shaped bacteria you may be familiar with is syphilis. While the illnesses are different, both are marked by coiled bacteria that twist and move, making them difficult to catch and treat in the body.

Spirochetes are savvy. They spiral away from antibiotics, burrowing into bones, cells, joints, and nerves. They can even cross the blood-brain barrier, bringing Lyme disease into your central nervous system. They replicate and spread; all it takes is one dormant spirochete to start reproducing for a Lyme infection to flare up. This is why late-stage Lyme—which goes untreated for a long time and has spread around the body and into the central nervous system—is difficult to treat, if not virtually impossible to fully eradicate.

How does a spirochete function?

In layman’s terms, I tend to think of spirochetes as glowing gummy worms buzzing around my body. I picture them with headlamps guiding their way through my joints, cells, and organs, including my brain. At my lowest point of illness, when my spirochete load was high and my symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and migraines were at their worst, I would imagine an x-ray showing millions of glowing worms spinning through my body.

The image is not far off from what was actually happening. My body was overloaded with spirochetes that were causing inflammation, frayed nerves, short-circuited synapses, etc. As antibiotics chased the spirochetes, eventually some started dying off. This caused another kind of overload because the antibiotics were killing the bacteria faster than my body could eliminate them. The build-up of dead, yet to be off-loaded toxins causes what is called a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction which will make you feel much worse before you begin to feel better. Eventually, however, the antibiotics will start overwhelming the spirochetes which the body will slowly but relentlessly eliminate; then you’ll start feeling better.

Can I feel spirochetes in my body?

Technically, no. Though my Integrative Manual Therapist often says he can feel the motility of spirochetes when I am having a flare-up of achiness, inflammation, and fatigue. When my Lyme flares, I often first sense it in my forearms and shins. These areas feel bruised to the touch, and are especially achy. I also feel a spinning sensation under my skin, and when I put my hands on my skin, I feel a buzzing like electricity. I imagine I’m feeling the twisting spirochetes coiling around my arms and legs, but my Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) says, no, what I’m actually feeling is the inflammation of my peripheral sensory nerve fibers.

How do I get rid of spirochetes?

Borrelia burgdorferi is best killed with antibiotics. In my personal experience, naturopathic or homeopathic treatments are a good complement to antibiotics, but they can never replace them. However, I have found other techniques that may help antibiotics work more effectively, by helping my body to detox (offload) dead spirochetes.

  • Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT)—This hands-on, light touch therapy includes neurofascial processing and cranial sacral therapy. An IMT practitioner uses their hands to help different systems of your body work together. I believe that IMT has helped me to detox faster and has calmed down spirochete activity and inflammation. At the height of my battle with tick-borne illnesses, I had IMT sessions 2-3 times a week. Now I do them every other week. Some physical therapy practices offer IMT, which means the sessions may be covered by your insurance.
  • At-home IMT—Sometimes just placing my own hands on the areas where I’m feeling the buzzing helps calm that sensation down. I usually do one hand on either calf, or one on either forearm, for at least fifteen minutes. You can check out the book Body Wisdom: Light Touch for Optimal Health by Sharon Giammatteo for more at-home techniques.
  • Decaffeinated green tea—Green tea is well-known to help with detox, and I usually have one cup of it after an IMT session. I also find that when I’m feeling the “spirochetes” in my arms and legs—or rather, as my doctor would say, feeling the inflammation of my peripheral sensory nerve fibers— it helps to have at least one cup of green tea daily.
  • Water—Flush your system with as much water as possible, alternating regular water with electrolyte-enhanced water to make sure you keep your sodium and potassium levels regulated.
  • Anti-inflammatory diet—This means different things for different people. For me, it helps to eliminate gluten and sugar. For others, it helps to reduce dairy. Check with your LLMD about what foods might best help you reduce inflammation.
  • Don’t exercise—Lyme patients are always hearing “Maybe it’ll help you to exercise!” or “You should at least go for a walk and get some fresh air!” When my Lyme is flaring, this advice is not helpful—it’s hurtful. When I’m feeling well, exercise is an important and useful tool for optimizing that wellness. When I’m overloaded with spirochetes, exercise only moves the bacteria around more and makes me feel worse. If you had a large cut on your arm that was severely inflamed, you wouldn’t wave that arm around frantically to get blood flowing to it. Instead, you’d rest your arm so it could heal. The same is true for an inflamed body.
  • Don’t get a massage—This tip is similar to exercise avoidance. Deep massage helps your circulation, but if you have spirochetes in your body you may want to refrain from encouraging their movement. I avoid massage when I’m in the midst of a flare up, and when I do get a massage, I make sure the touch is very, very light.

These are techniques that help me when my Lyme is flaring up. Other patients may have other ideas that I haven’t tried. It’s important to check with your LLMD to see what the best protocol is for you.

jennifer crystal_2Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. Her memoir One Tick Stopped the Clock is forthcoming. Contact her at lymewarriorjennifercrystal@gmail.com.

 

 

Category:

Lyme

WI Lyme/MSIDS Patients – Contact Senator Tammy Baldwin Today!

Please contact Senator Baldwin today on this URGENT legislation and ask her to cosponsor the TICK Act (S. 1657) which establishes office oversight and coordination at HHS, reauthorizes regional Centers of Excellence in Vector Borne Disease, and authorizes grants to state health departments. This important bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN), would significantly improve coordination at the federal level and provide communities and states with resources for prevention, early detection, and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. 1571860110653_TICK Act One-Pager

The email to contact Senator Baldwin is: Erin_dugan@baldwin.senate.gov

I’ve included a generic template to simplify the process:

October 23, 2019

[ADDRESS]

Dear __________

[As your constituent, I am writing and asking you to cosponsor S.1657, the TICK Act. The TICK Act stands for “Ticks: Identify, Control, and Knockout Act”. This important bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN), would significantly improve coordination at the federal level and provide communities and states with resources for prevention, early detection, and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Specifically, this legislation would:

(1) Establish an Office of Oversight and Coordination at HHS, to develop a National Strategy to expand research and improve testing and treatment affordability to fight tick-borne diseases; 

(2) Reauthorize $10 million per year over the next five years for Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease. These Centers collaborate with academia and public health agencies for surveillance, prevention, outbreak response; 

(3) Authorize $20 million per year over the next five years in CDC Grants to States and communities across the country to raise awareness about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, support early detection and diagnosis, and improve treatment. 

Your support of S.1657, the TICK Act, is urgently needed. The overall number of Americans infected by Lyme and tick-borne diseases is rising and there is no end in sight. Last year, there were 450,000 cases of Lyme, a 1,400 percent increase from 2003. 

[Please WRITE YOUR OWN STORY HERE or DELETE. For example: I got Lyme disease in 2015, while hiking on my favorite trail in… The disease has been devastating, and I am still fighting it everyday].

Lyme disease costs our nation more than $75 billion per year, including direct medical costs and indirect costs such as loss of work. As your constituent, I urge you to join the effort to combat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases by co-sponsoring S.1657, TICK Act, and become an advocate for this urgently needed, and long overdue, legislation.

Sincerely,

________________

 

 

Category:

Activism, Lyme

Tickborne Triggered Seizure Disorder – A Case Study

https://www.somerdelsignore.com/the-lyme-corner/lets-talk-lyme-disease/pans/pandas/somer-delsignore/2019/10/16/tickborne-triggered-seizure-disorder-case-study-of-a-teenager-with-new-onset-seizure-disorder-and-the-neurological-impact-of-tickborne-diseases

October 16, 2019

By SOMER DELSIGNORE

Tickborne Triggered Seizure Disorder: Case Study of a Teenager with New Onset Seizure Disorder and the Neurological Impact of Tickborne Diseases

The Neurological impact of Bartonella and Rickettsia

This next case study is of an 18-year-old female who was adopted at the age of 5. Her adoptive mother described her as a malnourished premature baby who eventually received good foster care. This young lady was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that was left untreated in her country of origin at the age of two. By the age of five, she was adopted and moved to the US with her American family. She was fully immunized twice, diagnosed with hypothyroidism and inadequate growth. By this time, an Endocrinologist was onboard and treating her thyroid and growth deficiencies. She seemed to rebound, reaching puberty by the age of 13. Life was stable for some time until January of 2016. She was nearly sixteen years old and developed sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms with acute confusion, severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, frequent urination, insomnia, auditory hallucinations, severe sensory issues, leg tremors and eventually catatonia.  Given her acute changes, her mother rushed her to the Emergency Room for evaluation. EEG was negative and she was hospitalized for apparent acute psychosis treated with Risperdal and Ativan.

After her hospitalization she followed up with a well-known Neurologist who identified positive Mycoplasma and initiated a course of Azithromycin. By the fourth dose she began to return to her normal state and began sleeping again. She was treated for over a month with antibiotics and seemed stable.

There was a great deal of stress in the family, a close family member died and within two weeks she developed new onset grand mal seizures while sleeping. Another ER visit with a normal EEG at the time determined perhaps the stress and trauma of her family member’s death may have triggered the event.

In January 2018 she had another grand mal seizure early in the am. Her neurologist began medications to address. She had no additional seizure activity but noted increasing anxiety. By December 2018 she suffered another grand mal seizure.

Further evaluation by the neurologist showed negative Lyme screening only, viral panels negative, tick-borne co-infections were not obtained, thyroid studies, electrolytes and inflammatory markers were all within normal limits.

This patient presented to me in February 2019. Upon further evaluation she was found to have progressive muscle weakness, cognitive dysfunction ongoing psychiatric symptoms, tremors and noted random striae or “stretch-marks” that would appear and disappear all over her body. She stated that this had occurred since the age of fourteen.  She admitted several evaluations with psychiatric acute hospital admission for escalating neuropsychological symptoms that included visual and auditory hallucinations, compulsions, rage, emotional lability, delusions, anxiety as well as the ongoing physical symptoms. Neuropsychological meds were ineffective. The patient upon presentation was taking high dose Depakote, gabapentin and folic acid to control her seizure activity.

Initial lab work up at my office showed an IGM positive Bartonella Henselae, Lyme Western Blot with an IGM indeterminate band 23-25 and IGG positive bands 18,23-25,28,31,34,39,41,45,and indeterminate bands 58 and 66. She also showed IGG positive Rickettsia and Anaplasma. She carried one copy of MTHFR A1298C and had significant GI bacteria overgrowth with Streptococcus, Citrobacter, Proteus and Bacillus.

She was started on a course of Azithromycin and Bactrim as well as biofilm busters and herbals.  Two months later she reported significant improvements noting striae lightening, energy improvements, mood stability, resolution of hallucinations, and her sleep was improving. She noted ongoing body and hand tremors as well as struggles cognitively with word finding but was back in school full time.

We decided to continue the treatment course and repeat her bloodwork in two months as well as continue follow up with her Neurologist to monitor. By June the patient was feeling great. She began a Depakote wean with her Neurologist and graduated High School.

Her lab results showed improvements with Bartonella levels as well as GI bacterial overgrowth. Rickettsia antibodies lingered unchanged as did Lyme bands. I added to her regimen Doxycycline and Cefdinir as well as an antifungal and supportive herbals to prevent yeast.

This patient is still a work in progress, however what is important to note is her complete reversal of the neuropsychological symptoms once antibiotics were initiated as well as the ongoing, successful wean of seizure medications.

Bartonella and Rickettsia infections both have an affinity for the central nervous system. It is challenging to identify given their non-specific symptom presentation at times. Rickettsia isn’t well understood regarding brain parenchyma and central nervous system transmission. We know in mouse studies, Rickettsia and Bartonella both contribute to neuroinflammation which can contribute to acute psychological symptoms. We see this type of neurological process in classic PANS patients related to strep. Although I see the trend clinically, I don’t feel that autoimmune encephalopathy related to tick-borne infections in children and young adults is well documented.

My hope is thru case study presentations you’ll connect real world, everyday struggles of these vulnerable patients with the disease process. I strongly feel further exploration of autoimmune encephalopathy as it relates to Lyme and other Tickborne illnesses in pediatrics should be a collaborative effort with mental health practitioners and welcome those interested to contact me.

__________________

For more: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/05/good-news-for-bartonella-patients-identification-of-fda-approved-drugs-with-higher-activity-than-current-front-line-drugs/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/02/07/mycoplasma-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/03/08/anaplasmosis/ (Treatment)

https://reference.medscape.com/article/968385-treatment  (Rickettsia treatment)

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, Inflammation, Lyme, Mycoplasma, Psychological Aspects, research, Treatment

Dealing With Lyme Disease and Mold Illness at the Same Time

https://www.lymedisease.org/patel-lyme-mold/

LYME SCI: Dealing with Lyme disease and mold illness at the same time

By Lonnie Marcum

Dr. Raj Patel discusses Lyme disease & mold illness

According to Dr. Raj Patel, if you have been treated for chronic Lyme disease and are not getting better, toxic mold could be a contributing factor.

In his experience, one half of all unresolved Lyme disease cases are due in part to inflammation caused by mold illness.

Dr. Patel has over 20 years’ clinical experience in medicine, treating chronic Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, mold illness, autism and related conditions.

He recently shared information and insights about his approach to Lyme and mold at LymeDisease.org’s MyLymeData2017 conference in San Ramon, California.

Exposure to Lyme and mold are very common occurrences, Dr. Patel says, but not all people who are exposed will come down with symptoms. Patients with a strong immune system may be unaffected, but those with a weakened immune system, or other contributing factors, can become chronically ill.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms for mold illness are very similar to chronic Lyme disease:

  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Focus/concentration issues, word recall, memory issues
  • Confusion, disorientation, mood swings
  • Muscle aches, cramps, joint pain, morning stiffness
  • Skin sensitivity, light sensitivity
  • Cough, shortness of breath, dizziness
  • Excessive thirst, increased urination, static shocks
  • Numbness and tingling, unusual pain, “ice pick’ pain
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, appetite swings
  • Headaches, tremors, metallic taste
  • Temperature regulation problems, day/night sweats (more at night)
  • Red eyes, tearing, sinus problems

Dr. Patel’s backstory is particularly intriguing. He suffered years of progressive fatigue after attending medical school in New Jersey before finally being diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease.

Years later, after repeated exposure to a water-damaged building, he came down with mold illness and all of his Lyme symptoms came back. The treatment he recommends to his patients is the same method he used to heal himself.

Predisposing factors for mold illness

  1. Genetic predisposition
  2. History of exposure to mold or water-damaged buildings
  3. A weakened immune system due to viral, parasitic and/or bacterial co-infections
  4. Autoimmune illness

Genetic predisposition

According to Dr. Patel, common genetic defects seen in patients with mold illness are within the methylation detox pathways (MTHFR), and the Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLAs).

We each receive a set of genes from our parents, so any person has the potential for no defects, to be heterozygous (1 defect from 1 parent) or homozygous (2 defects—1 from each parent).

MTHFR is a gene that instructs the human body on how to convert folic acid from the foods we eat to a usable form of Vitamin B called methyl-folate. Methyl-folate is involved in the proper function of almost every system in the human body including: cell repair, making neurotransmitters (that control sleep, moods, memory), metabolizing fats, activating the immune system and clearing the body of toxins and heavy metals.

People who have methylation defects will have more difficulty healing from infections and clearing toxins like mold and heavy metal.

HLAs are antigens that are found on the surface of nearly every human cell in the body. These antigens help the immune system identify foreign invaders.

If there is a defect on an HLA gene a person will have difficulty clearing toxins and infections. Approximately 24% of the normal population carry an HLA defect, making them more susceptible to mold illness.

What is mold illness?

Dr. Patel says mold is the number one cause of uncontrolled inflammation involving the innate immune system. Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) happens when repeated exposure to toxins causes the immune system to go haywire. CIRS can be triggered by the combination of mycotoxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other inflammatory toxins found in water-damaged environments.

Over time, this inflammation causes damage in the following:

  • Disrupted melatonin (sleep disturbances)
  • Gut inflammation (food sensitivities, irritable bowel, immune deregulation)
  • Compromised Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis (severe fatigue)
  • Disrupted Vitamin D metabolism (increased viral activity)
  • Low testosterone (fatigue, low libido)
  • Caudate atrophy (diminished motivation)
  • Swelling and enlargement of the forebrain and cortical gray matter

Testing for mold

Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) is a DNA analysis of settled dust collected in buildings to determine the concentration of 36 species of mold associated with water-damaged buildings. For more information on ERMI see mycometrics.com

Dr. Patel recommends using the ERMI cloth method, and collecting samples from each room in the building where dust has settled for 4-6 weeks. The top shelf, above cabinets, above door jams, along baseboards, above ceiling fans are all good places for collecting dust.

For two-story buildings, he recommends using two separate ERMI kits. If the ERMI score comes back borderline, clean the building then re-test. If the score comes back with high levels of mold, it is considered a dangerous living environment for those with mold illness.

Patients with severe mold illness will need to decide whether to remodel (remediate) or remove themselves permanently from the environment.

Diagnostic tests for mold illness*

There is no single test for detecting mold illness in humans. In addition to a full workup that would include testing for autoimmune diseases, he recommends testing for specific hormones and inflammatory markers as listed below.

Tests for detecting chronic inflammation specific to Lyme and mold illness:

  • Low VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide) – lower than 23 (Lyme &/or mold)
  • Low MSH (Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone) – lower than 35 (Lyme &/or mold)
  • Low VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) -lower than 31 (Lyme &/or mold)
  • Hi TGFb1 (Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1) – greater than 7,000 (Lyme &/or mold)
  • Hi MMP9 (Matrix Metallopeptidase-9) – greater than 500 (Lyme &/or mold)
  • Hi C4a (Compliment Component 4) above 2,800 but below 10,000 (Lyme w/out mold)
  • Hi C4a (Compliment Component 4) greater than 10,000 (Lyme & mold)
  • NeuroQuant MRI swelling and enlargement of forebrain and cortical gray matter, caudate atrophy, pallidum enlargement. (Lyme will have putamen atrophy, right thalamus enlarged)

*For more information on laboratory testing see SurvivingMold.com

Treating Lyme disease in the context of mold illness

  1. Eliminate exposure. Most importantly, people must eliminate their exposure to mold from the home, school, workplace and regular hangouts including church. It is absolutely critical the Lyme patient have a mold-free sanctuary. Regularly changing central heat A/C filters and adding freestanding HEPA air filtration systems will help. If high mold content is found, the only options are remediation or vacating the premises.
  2. Reduce inflammation. Dr. Patel recommends using binders like bentonite, cholestyramine (CSM), Welchol, or activated charcoal to reduce inflammation. Patients who are immunocompromised and have signs of chronic viral reactivation (HHV6/EBV/CMV/Parvovirus) may need to treat with antiviral medication. If C4a markers come down on the antiviral, that is diagnostic of viral reactivation. If C4a markers come down on the binders, it indicates mold illness.
  3. Treat Lyme and coinfections. Once the mold is eliminated and the inflammatory markers have come down, you can begin treatment for Lyme and co-infections. If treatment is begun before the CIRS is under control, the patient will not get better. Dr. Patel recommends treatment at a low and slow pace with patients who have genetic defects in their detox pathways and a history of CIRS.
  4. Treat MARCoNS (Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci). Diagnosis of MARCoNS is made with a deep nasal swab that is sent to the lab for culture. If positive, the patient it treated with BEG (Bacitracin/EDTA/Gentamycin) nasal spray. If the MARCoNS is resistant to Gentamycin, treat with BEC (Bacitracin/EDTA/Clindamycin). Typical dose is two sprays four times per day for four weeks (ramped up to full dose slowly).
  5. Prepare patient for VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide). Dr. Patel says VIP helps his patients repair the chronic inflammatory damage left behind by mold and Lyme, and regain the last 30% of their health. VIP is an 11-step protocol devised by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. It reverses the inflammatory pathways so that patients will become less reactive to mold in the future, and should be overseen by a practitioner who is trained in CIRS. You can learn more about how Dr. Patel treats mold illness here.

Avoiding mold exposure

Dr. Patel says, “quite simply, the more mold exposure is avoided, the faster the patient responds to antimicrobials.”

Dr. Patel is board-certified in Family Medicine and has completed extensive post-graduate studies in autism spectrum disorders, Lyme disease and mold illness. He is an active member of Defeat Autism Now (DAN) and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), and has completed advanced training in pediatric Lyme disease. He currently practices integrative medicine at Medical Options for Wellness in Foster City, California.

LymeSci is written by Lonnie Marcum, a Licensed Physical Therapist and mother of a daughter with Lyme. Follow her on Twitter: @LonnieRhea  Email her at: lmarcum@lymedisease.org .

Category:

Detoxing, Inflammation, Lyme, Mold