Response Statement by International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society
(ILADS)
ILADS Members Question
Motives of New England Journal of Medicine Article on Lyme Disease Treatment
Article in New England
Journal of Medicine Fails to Disclose Conflicts of Interest of Overlapping
Panel Members
Bethesda, MD Oct. 3, 2007
– Members of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)
voiced skepticism regarding the conclusions of a newly published article in
The New England Journal of Medicine entitled “A Critical Appraisal of
Chronic Lyme Disease”.
The
article, written by a committee of researchers, erroneously concludes that
chronic Lyme disease is a “misnomer”, citing lack of scientific evidence
proving the existence of the condition. ILADS members pointed out the
article does not reflect real-world patient experience with the disease.
“We
have great respect for the New England Journal of Medicine,” states Dr.
Raphael Stricker, President of ILADS. “But we are concerned this article
will continue to foster inadequate care for patients who are suffering from
the long term affects of chronic Lyme disease.”
ILADS
members believe the article’s conclusions ignore more than 19,000 scientific
studies on tick-borne diseases and reflect a huge conflict of interest.
Specifically:
Ø The
article was written by a group of researchers who have consistently voiced a
narrow viewpoint on the existence of chronic Lyme disease and appropriate
treatment. Eleven of the authors were members of the panel that formulated
the 2006 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Lyme guidelines. The
panel is currently under investigation by the Connecticut Attorney General
for exclusionary practices in formulating the IDSA guidelines.
Ø The
authors of the article failed to disclose that they are under investigation
by the Connecticut Attorney General. This omission violates the “full
disclosure” policy of the journal and creates a conflict of interest by
calling into question the authors’ motives for writing the article.
Ø Several
authors of the current article also participated in formulation of copycat
Lyme guidelines for the American Academy of Neurology. Those guidelines were
presented as “independent corroboration” of the IDSA Lyme guidelines, when
in fact the same individuals were involved with both guidelines and employed
the same exclusionary tactics that prompted the Connecticut Attorney
General’s investigation.
“It is
unfortunate that this article perpetuates the narrow viewpoint on Lyme
disease,” added Stricker. “We believe it is in everyone’s best interest to
broaden the scope of the discussion within the medical community in order to
better address the suffering among patients.”
About ILADS
ILADS is a nonprofit, international, multidisciplinary
medical society, dedicated to the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of
Lyme and its associated diseases. ILADS promotes understanding of tick-borne
diseases through research and education and strongly supports physicians and
other health care professionals dedicated to advancing the standard of care
for Lyme and its associated diseases.
For
more information contact Pam Kahl.
pam.kahl@verbal800.com 503.284.1534
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