Nobel Laureate Dr. Luc Montagnier joins leaders in the Lyme disease community at this year's 2010 ILADS professional conference

Drs. Cameron, Maloney, Ostroff, and Kimball along with Julia F. Wagner, Gretchen and Meghan Harrison, and Pat Smith testify before the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Senator Don White, Chairman, Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The evidence continues to mount that Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) exists and must be addressed by the medical community if solutions are to be found. Four National Institutes of Health (NIH) trials validated the existence and severity of CLD. Despite the evidence, there are physicians who continue to deny the existence and severity of CLD, which can hinder efforts to find a solution. Recognizing CLD could facilitate efforts to avoid diagnostic delays of two years and durations of illness of 4.7 to 9 years described in the NIH trials. The risk to society of emerging antibiotic-resistant organisms should be weighed against the societal risks associated with failing to treat an emerging population saddled with CLD. The mixed long-term outcome in children could also be examined. Once we accept the evidence that CLD exists, the medical community should be able to find solutions. Medical professionals should be encouraged to examine whether: (1) innovative treatments for early LD might prevent CLD, (2) early diagnosis of CLD might result in better treatment outcomes, and (3) more effective treatment regimens can be developed for CLD patients who have had prolonged illness and an associated poor quality of life.

“It’s a sad day for the health care system and for everyone who suffers from the Lyme disease epidemic,” says Dr. Robert Bransfield, President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). “The IDSA’s flawed positions means patients will continue to suffer with incorrect diagnosis and improper treatment.” Treatment guidelines are crucial when it comes to healthcare because they may dictate whether patients can get diagnosed and treated for illnesses and whether or not insurance companies will pay for it.

The eight-member review panel issued its report Thursday, unanimously agreeing to uphold the disease treatment guidelines developed in 2006 by the Arlington, Va.-based Infectious Diseases Society of America. The guidelines, among other things, don't recommend treating Lyme disease with antibiotics for more than a few weeks and say there is no evidence that chronic Lyme disease exists.

Dr. Daniel Cameron, the immediate past president of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, which acknowledges the existence of chronic Lyme disease, said he was disappointed but not surprised. Insurance companies may use the guidelines to deny coverage for long-term treatment, he said, but doctors will continue to see patients with chronic problems that require treatment. "I don't think the IDSA is going to continue to offer much leadership in terms of solving the chronic Lyme disease problem," he said. "I don't see them welcoming the challenges of somebody that's been sick for months or years."

Although the ILADS guidelines are no longer listed on the NGC, they have not expired. The current guidelines will remain in effect until they are replaced by ILADS revised guidelines, which ILADS is currently in the process of updating.

Doctors and Patients Hope for Changes in Controversial Treatment Guidelines

Lyme disease advocate and Dr. Fletcher view the hearing

Why are crippling Lyme disease cases being misdiagnosed? ILADS member, Dr. Steve Harris, discusses his Canadian Lyme disease patient.