Why is it that when you have lyme, and drink alcohol, you feel like you are going to die for days after. What is the deal? I cannot even have a glass of wine.
Anybody know why?
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Probably this is why...!! ************************** 1: Immunopharmacology. 1991 Nov-Dec;22(3):165-73. Links
Immune response to the Lyme spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi affected by ethanol consumption.
Pavia CS, Bittker S, Cooper D. Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla.
Rats fed excessive amounts of ethanol developed marked hematologic and immunologic changes.
These included a reversal of the normal lymphocyte to granulocyte ratio in the peripheral blood, lower spleen and lymph node weights and a greatly reduced capacity to express normal cell mediated immune functions, based on poor lymphocyte reactivity in vivo, and in vitro to T and B cell mitogens and borrelial antigens shortly after primary immunization with the bacterial spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi.
Further evidence for impaired immune function caused by ethanol was based on little or no antibody response against Borrelia in rats following in vivo sensitization with B. burgdorferi incorporated in complete Freund's adjuvant.
These findings provide substantial direct evidence strengthening the notion that high levels of ethanol ingestion adversely affect the host immune system and can interfere with the immune response to microorganisms.