Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):438-48. Related Articles, Links
Chronic Lyme borreliosis at the root of multiple sclerosis - is a cure with antibiotics attainable?
Fritzsche M.
Clinic for Internal and Geographical Medicine, Soodstrasse 13, 8134 Adliswil, Switzerland.
Apart from its devastating impact on individuals and their families, multiple sclerosis (MS) creates a huge economic burden for society by mainly afflicting young adults in their most productive years. Although effective strategies for symptom management and disease modifying therapies have evolved, there exists no curative treatment yet. Worldwide, MS prevalence parallels the distribution of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi, and in America and Europe, the birth excesses of those individuals who later in life develop MS exactly mirror the seasonal distributions of Borrelia transmitting Ixodes ticks.
In addition to known acute infections, no other disease exhibits equally marked epidemiological clusters by season and locality, nurturing the hope that prevention might ultimately be attainable. As minocycline, tinidazole and hydroxychloroquine are reportedly capable of destroying both the spirochaetal and cystic L-form of B. burgdorferi found in MS brains, there emerges also new hope for those already afflicted. The immunomodulating anti-inflammatory potential of minocycline and hydroxychloroquine may furthermore reduce the Jarisch Herxheimer reaction triggered by decaying Borrelia at treatment initiation.
Even in those cases unrelated to B. burgdorferi, minocycline is known for its beneficial effect on several factors considered to be detrimental in MS. Patients receiving a combination of these pharmaceuticals are thus expected to be cured or to have a longer period of remission compared to untreated controls. Although the goal of this rational, cost-effective and potentially curative treatment seems simple enough, the importance of a scientifically sound approach cannot be overemphasised. A randomised, prospective, double blinded trial is necessary in patients from B. burgdorferi endemic areas with established MS and/or Borrelia L-forms in their cerebrospinal fluid, and to yield reasonable significance within due time, the groups must be large enough and preferably taken together in a multi-centre study.
Posts: 43 | From Canada | Registered: Dec 2003
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lymeit, Awesome relationship!! Thank you posting this important article.
Ernie
Posts: 546 | From Cascadia subduction zone | Registered: Mar 2002
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Not surprised. Bb uses Mg in its enzyme reactions. Mg is needed to make cholesterol which is needed to make the myelin sheath - the insulation around the nerves (which is destroyed in MS).
However, keep in mind, bartonella (Cat Scratch disease) also uses Mg.
There must be other pathogens too that use Mg, I just haven't found a microbiologist website that spells them all out ie. which pathogen uses what metal (mineral).
Most pathogens contain, in their outer cell walls, an enzyme called a metalloprotease. This enzyme needs a metal (a mineral) to activate it.
You read about protease inhibitors (drugs) when you study HIV. So they apply to viruses too.
Many pathogens use zinc. Staph uses iron (recent research).
I have no doubt MS patients have an infection. The question is what pathogen is causing this disease? The symptoms are unlike those of lyme in many instances. The symptoms seem to follow a different path of destruction.
Is MS caused by a different strain of Bb or another pathogen? Is it caused by a viral form of a bacteria?
For lyme patients, perhaps this article will draw more attention to this devastating disease since MS patients get the respect and care that they deserve and lyme patients do not.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Au contraire, Marnie. I was an MS patient for 5 years until I was dx with Lyme last year.
As an MS patient, I was told that there was basically nothing that could be done for me besides the ABCR drugs. These drugs supress the immune system and are IMO worse than doing nothing. I took Avonex for 3 years. Not only did it make me feel suicidal, it made me feel like I had the flu for 36 hours per week. And it supressed my immune system so my body refused to fight.
Lymies, on the other hand, at least have antibiotics that result in remission / cure for at least a subset of the victims.
1 : careful or diligent search 2 : studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws 3 : the collecting of information about a particular subject
Certainly qualifies as research to me. It is examining theories in light of new facts. MS does follow lyme clusters.
His hypothesis is that there is a link between the spread of lyme and MS as far as geographical distribution goes. He collected information then presented a question, about a particular subject.
Posts: 43 | From Canada | Registered: Dec 2003
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