Archive for the ‘Testing’ Category

Best Lab Test for Lyme, Bartonella, & Babesia

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/best-lab-test-for-borrelia-bartonella-babesia  Video Here (Approx. 8 Min)

Immunoblot is Best Test for Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia—Here is Why

By Dr. Marty Ross

This video article on testing has two parts.

  • First, I review the differences between IGenex Immunoblot and Armin or Infectolab Americas Elispot testing for the big three tick-borne infections of Borrelia (Lyme), Babesia and Bartonella.
  • The last section of the video compares IGenex Immunoblot and Galaxy Labs PCR tests for Bartonella.

There is clarifying information below the video. Here you can find more information about the meaning of sensitivity and specificity. I also identify the different strains IGenex detects versus the more limited strains Armin or Infectolab Americas detects. Finally, I explain why I do not use Vibrant Labs or DNA Connexions testing.

Terms and Definitions for Tests

To help understand when to use a test or the meaning of a result physicians consider the test sensitivity and specificity.

  • Sensitivity is the ability of a test to find an illness in all people with the illness.
  • Specificity is the ability of a test to correctly identify people without an illness from all people who do not have the illness.

IGenex Immunoblots are Best Because They are Most Sensitive and Specific

IGenex Immunoblot testing is more sensitive for Borrelia, Babesia, and Bartonella testing than Armin and Infectolab Elispot testing because it looks for reactions to more strains of each infection.

  • Borrelia. The test detects antibodies against eight strains including B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. burgdorferi.
  • Bartonella. The test detects antibodies against the family of Bartonella which includes 15 types thought to infect humans. In addition, it detects specific antibodies against four specific strains named B. henselae, B. vinsonii, B. elizabethae, and B. quintana.
  • Babesia. The test detects antibodies against the family of Babesia which includes B. odecoilei. It also detects specific antibodies against two specific strains named B. microti, and B. duncani.

(See link for article and video)

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Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, Lyme, Testing

Diagnosing Lyme Disease: Dr. Klinghardt

https://www.bitchute.com/video/IcgYf2AZGfyu/  Video Here (Approx. 1 hour 30 min)

Diagnosing Lyme Disease

Interview with Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt

First published April 2022

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Category:

Lyme, Testing, Ticks, Treatment

Case Report: Lyme Neuroborreliosis Triggers Multiple Strokes

https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-neuroborreliosis-triggers-multiple-strokes/

CASE REPORT: LYME NEUROBORRELIOSIS TRIGGERS MULTIPLE STROKES

Lyme disease can trigger neurological complications. But neurovascular manifestations are far less common. In this case report, the authors describe a 58-year-old man who suffered multiple strokes due to Lyme neuroborreliosis.

By 

In their article, “A case report of unilateral cerebral vasculitis in adults: keep in mind Lyme neuroborreliosis,” Riescher and colleagues examine the case of a 58-year-old man “with recurrent strokes in the same vascular territory without CSF pleocytosis, reflecting an unusual first manifestation of [Lyme neuroborreliosis].”¹

The authors point out that cerebral vasculitis is reported in only 0.3–1% of all Lyme neuroborreliosis cases, and unilateral or focal vasculitis have only rarely been described, almost exclusively in children.

In this case report, the patient, who had no medical history or cardiovascular risk factors, was admitted to the hospital with sudden right brachiofacial weakness. According to the authors, “He recovered partially, but facial palsy persisted.”

He was referred to the stroke unit but a neurological and general examination was normal.

“Cervical and intracranial CT angiography did not show any abnormalities such as stenosis, occlusion, or dilatation,” the authors wrote.

The man was diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke and prescribed aspirin (160  mg), atorvastatin (80 mg), and perindopril at 2 mg daily.

Two months later, the man exhibited sudden aphasia.

“Burgdorferi-induced cerebral vasculitis is thought to be a very rare manifestation of [Lyme neuroborreliosis]. But it must nonetheless be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained recurrent and/or multiple strokes.”

“MRI revealed a new and recent ischemic lesion in the left MCA territory visible on DWI, and another older lesion in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory,” the authors wrote.

The patient was prescribed an oral anticoagulant and a cardiac monitor was inserted.

Over the next several months, the patient developed new symptoms including paresthesia (tingling sensation) in the right hand and foot, headaches, extreme weakness and lack of energy, psychomotor retardation, and unsteadiness.

Thirteen months after his first symptom appeared, he developed paresis (muscle weakness) in his right leg.

“A brain MRI showed a new recent ischemic lesion in the left cingulate cortex on DWI in the left ACA territory as well as other new lesions in the left MCA territory (in the frontal lobe),” the authors wrote.

Additional neurological testing was normal. However, Lyme disease testing was “highly positive” on ELISA and confirmed by Western blot.

The man was successfully treated with a one-month course of doxycycline.

“The patient experienced no further stroke after four weeks of doxycycline treatment.”

“In the following weeks, the patient reported dramatic improvement, with disappearance of his asthenia, dizziness, and right arm paresthesia,” the authors wrote.

The patient later reported that he had a tick bite 2 years prior to his first stroke, along with an erythema migrans rash but he never developed arthritis or pain.

Authors Conclude:

  • “Our patient stood out because he had recurrent ischemic strokes for more than one year (at least four episodes), without other associated symptoms, involving the ICA territory only, and without CSF pleocytosis, which is thought to be highly suggestive of LNB.”
  • “Burgdorferi-induced cerebral vasculitis is thought to be a very rare manifestation of [Lyme neuroborreliosis]. But it must nonetheless be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained recurrent and/or multiple strokes.”
  • “This case report reminds clinicians that it can occur without a history of a clear tick bite or erythema migrans, and cranial or peripheral neuritis and that the CSF examination can be normal.”
References:
  1. Riescher, S., Dos Santos, A., Lecomte, R. et al. A case report of unilateral cerebral vasculitis in adults: keep in mind Lyme neuroborreliosis. BMC Infect Dis 23, 283 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-023-08259-z

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**Comment**

I’ve stated this before but it’s worth repeating: many Lyme/MSIDS patients improve by taking blood thinners or anti-coagulants like heparin, systemic enzymes, and things like serrapeptase, nattokinase & lumbrokinase which have a blood thinning effect.  Considering that many pathogens form biofilm, thinning and thereby cleaning the blood seems a logical step in helping treatment be more effective.

Category:

Lyme, research, Supplements, Testing, Treatment

Is Your Home Making You Sick? How To Check For Mold

https://www.lymedisease.org/how-to-check-for-mold-iseai/

Is your home making you sick? Here’s how to check for mold.

The International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI) Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) Committee has released a Mold Testing Guide to educate patients with diagnosed or probable environmentally acquired illness.

It includes five common test types, do-it-yourself and professional approaches, and how to get help to assess and improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Environmentally acquired illness (EAI) refers to chronic health problems caused by exposure to unhealthy indoor air, mold and other biotoxins, Lyme disease and other persistent infections, and toxicants found in the environment.

Understanding Mold Exposure and Your Health

Awareness about mold’s effect on human health, and indoor air quality in general, has been increasing over the past few years. Several types of illnesses may be caused by exposure to mold and other toxins in damp buildings and they can often become complex and chronic, with symptoms similar to Lyme disease and its co-infections.

Mold exposure from damp buildings may lead to chronic inflammation and can be a primary exposure factor in the clinical presentation of individuals suffering from a variety of chronic health issues due to environmental exposures.

A medically-sound indoor environmental professional is often needed to help sensitive patients, but worth it. Some patients with Lyme disease may find it more difficult to heal in an unhealthy building that is affected by mold.

Unfortunately, there are currently no US Federal or State regulated levels set for indoor mold exposures and interpretation of environmental sample data can be very subjective and vary from one professional to another.

The Mold Testing Guide can help educate patients and physicians about this important topic.

A Healthy Indoor Environment

ISEAI feels that a healthy indoor environment is free of water damage, fungal and microbial growth, and byproducts of that growth (mycotoxins, mVOCs, fragments).

That said, there is no such thing as a truly “mold free” home, since fungal spores exist in the natural outdoor environment. A goal is to maintain an indoor environment that resembles the natural outdoor environment as much as possible, without undue elevations.

In addition to a thorough visual assessment by a professional, the results of environmental testing such as mold testing may allow sensitive patients to better understand their exposure levels, and take appropriate action if needed.

About ISEAI

ISEAI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization co-founded by 350+ clinician members to raise awareness about the environmental causes of complex chronic illness and to advance the care of patients through clinical practice, education and research. Their vision is a world where a wide range of clinicians have the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat the root causes of debilitating complex chronic and inflammatory illnesses.

About the IEP Committee

ISEAI’s IEP Committee is a group of highly credentialed and experienced indoor environmental professionals who have specialized experience with medically-sensitive patients. The Committee reports to the ISEAI Board of Directors and provides education to clinicians and the public on topics of mold, indoor air quality and contaminants.

Additional Resources

ISEAI’s Resources Page includes other IEP Committee documents such as the Mold Remediation Factsheet and a directory of medically-sound IEPs and clinicians.

Also read: Finding the Right Indoor Environmental Professional to Assess Your Home.

SOURCE: The International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness

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Category:

Lyme, Mold, Testing, Uncategorized

9 Lyme & Tick-borne Disease Hacks & Dr. John Aucott’s Lyme Research Update

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/lyme-tick-borne-disease-hacks  Video Here (Approx. 35 Min)

Nine Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Hacks

Marty Ross MD presents nine hacks for Lyme and tick borne disease. Watch this video and Powerpoint presentation to find real ways to improve your health.

This is a second recording of a video Powerpoint presentation first delivered to the Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network Virtual 2023 Awareness Event on May 23, 2023.

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Watch Dr. John Aucott’s update on latest Lyme disease research

Dr. John Aucott, Director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center, recently delivered an overview of Lyme and other tick-borne disease research. You can watch a replay of his presentation below.

What follows is the introduction to Dr. Aucott by Shireen Rusby, one of the founders of Maryland’s Lyme Care Resource Center.

May is Lyme disease awareness month. Like any “awareness” effort, the intent is to increase the attention to and appreciation for the subject. In the case of Lyme disease there is a particularly powerful irony to the concept of awareness. Lyme disease is an illness that is often hidden and its symptoms unrecognized, yet the patient can be so overwhelmed that there is little reprieve from the self-awareness that dominates each day.

Those of us living with Lyme disease, as well as those living with many other long-term, hidden health conditions, have experienced very similar scenarios – the body’s natural inclination toward homeostasis is challenged.

Balance becomes harder to achieve and maintain. Lyme has imbalanced us, COVID has imbalanced us, ME/CFS has imbalanced us, dysautonomia and POTS have imbalanced us. So while our bodies, minds and spirits are making constant efforts to balance and rebalance physically, mentally and emotionally, what is the impact of stressors on a system that is already experiencing overload?

Well, that’s a whole thesis in and of itself and we’re not going to cover it tonight. But there is one stressor that we can increase “awareness” of this evening. For members of the Lyme community and those of other hidden illnesses, the challenges of dysfunctional homeostasis are compounded by the emotional strain of invalidation.

What interferes with healing

When we then begin to doubt our own reality, we make efforts to normalize the abnormal state of our being and that in turn leads to an even greater maladaptive response and further interferes with healing.

In his book, Conquering Lyme Disease, Dr. Brian Fallon states: “The experience of being disbelieved and misrepresented over and over is inherently traumatizing. Some patients…have identified this atmosphere of disbelief (and the resulting social isolation and self-doubt) as the single most stressful aspect of their illness experience.”

Some of you may have seen the movie Avatar. It is a futuristic story of human beings landing on another planet and attempting to conquer the native people of that land. When greeting each other, these natives to whom we are supposedly superior, look each other in the eye and say, “I see you.”

This simple phrase encapsulates much of our ongoing struggle in the medical world. It speaks to a fundamentally necessary component of the practitioner-patient relationship that is at times absent in this journey with invisible illness.

Many medical professionals may not know where to turn when blood work looks normal and verifiable analytical tools fail to provide objective evidence. The simple truth, however, is that an absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. That quote, often attributed to the astrophysicist Carl Sagan, can serve as an incredibly powerful guiding principle when it comes to illnesses like Lyme disease.

The art of inquiry

Our lack of comprehensive and neatly packaged scientific proof need not preclude our awareness and acknowledgement of the situation. Rather, this is an opportunity for us to practice the art of inquiry as the necessary first step on the path of healing.

And certainly, there is no one path of healing in illnesses as complex as Lyme disease, and that adds to the challenge for both the patient and the practitioner. The fractured Western paradigm of medicine, in its tendency to compartmentalize and classify health as black or white, present or absent, positive or negative often fails to recognize the holistic nature of human suffering.

But the path of healing is first paved with recognition of and respect for the imbalanced body, mind and spirit.

Our journey to regain and retain balance begins again each day. In paving this path let us remember to turn toward the light especially when it seems dark, and let us use the tools of compassion and understanding to help one another.

Fostering awareness of this hidden yet ever-growing health pandemic will increase the opportunities for healing, and will turn the tide against the history of glaring invisibility and deafening silence.

We have as our guest speaker tonight someone who has made it his mission to foster the awareness of Lyme disease. He has paved the path of healing for countless Lyme warriors with sound practices and with stellar science.

John Aucott and his amazing team at the Lyme Disease Research Center, have partnered with many, first and foremost with the patients they serve, to produce the scientific evidence necessary to authenticate many of our struggles – struggles which we have experienced for months, years or even decades, while seeking out the rare practitioner like him who looks at us and says “I see you.”

For your endless support, for your validation of what we endure, and for your ongoing efforts to find the evidence that may have once seemed absent –we offer our endless gratitude.

http://  Approx. 2 hours

LCRC May 2023: Advances in Lyme Disease and Tickborne Disease Research

Dr. Aucott will be discussing research advances in Lyme Disease and Tickborne Diseases, including an update on diagnostics, potential biomarkers, advanced neuroimaging, and future treatments.

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Category:

Activism, Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Inflammation, Lyme, Mold, Supplements, Testing, Treatment