What is
PTLDS?
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) / Chronic Lyme / Persistent Lyme are names of a disease that results from an infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by ticks.
2 million individuals
live with PTLDS
10-20%
of antibiotic-treated Lyme patients remain ill
Some patients get better
over time, but that may take years, if ever at all
A long-lived debilitating illness
Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
(PTLDS)/Chronic Lyme/Persistent Lyme are all names of a disease that results from an infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, which are carried by ticks. Although most Lyme disease cases can be cured in two to four weeks with antibiotics, for some cases several debilitating symptoms will remain and become PTLDS, Chronic Lyme or Persistent Lyme.
“An estimated 2 million individuals are living with PTLD in 2020, making it a significant public health concern. The cost of care for PTLD is likely to be profound, due to the chronicity of symptoms, their severity, and the large number of affected individuals. Due to the lack of a case definition or objective quantifiable biomarkers, public and private insurance does not recognize PTLD or bear the costs of this treatment, which are paid by patients themselves.
Better diagnostic tests to identify both acute Lyme disease as well as the transition to PTLD are urgently needed. Additionally, we need better definition of biomarkers that could be used as measurable treatment endpoints in clinical trials, which would lead to improved treatment. Since immune dysfunctions accompany long-term symptoms, more understanding of immune responses in both people who have recovered, as well as those who continue to be ill would help clarify the process of disease.
Hopefully, with improved definition of persistent symptoms and more effective treatment, few, if any, will progress to PTLD. “
By Mayla Hsu, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Science
Global Lyme Alliance
globallymealliance.org
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PTLDS is a multi-system disease
Symptoms
Lyme disease occurs in three stages: early localized, early disseminated and late disseminated. However the stages can overlap and not all patients go through all three. A bulls-eye rash is usually considered one of the first signs of infection, but many people develop a different kind of rash or none at all. In most cases, Lyme symptoms can start with a flu-like illness.
If untreated, the symptoms can continue to worsen and turn into a long-lived debilitating illness.
Kindly contributed by the Global Lyme Alliance (globallymealliance.org)
Most Common Symptoms
Stage 1: Early Localized Disease
Symptoms with early localized (or acute) Lyme disease may begin hours, days or even weeks after a tick bite. At this point, the infection has not yet spread throughout the body. Lyme is the easiest to cure at this stage. Symptoms may include:
Skin rash, which may or may not look like a bull’s eye
Flu-like illness, including chills and fever
Fatigue
Headache and stiff neck
Muscle soreness and joint pain
Swollen lymph nodes
Sore throat
Stage 2: Early Disseminated Lyme
Early disseminated Lyme may occur several weeks or months after the tick bite. Bacteria are beginning to spread throughout the body. In addition to flu-like symptoms, this stage is often characterized by increase in symptoms such as:
Chills
Fever
Headaches
Fatigue
Pain, weakness or numbness in the arms, legs
Vision changes
Heart problems, such as palpitations, chest pain
Rash may appear on body
Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)
Stage 3: Late Disseminated Lyme Disease
(Post-treatment, chronic, persistent, or neurological) If Lyme disease isn’t promptly or effectively treated in the first two stages, Lyme can occur weeks, months or even years after the tick bite. The Lyme bacteria have spread throughout the body and many people develop chronic arthritis as well as an increase in neurological and cardiac symptoms. Symptoms may include:
Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints
Severe headaches, neck stiffness or migraines
Vertigo, dizziness, shortness of breath
Sleep disturbances, insomnia
Heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat
Mental fogginess, concentration issues
Numbness, shooting pains or tingling in the arms, legs, hands or feet
Problems following conversations and processing information
Severe fatigue
Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
Nerve pain
The cause of Lyme disease is known but the reason why some people transition to PTLDS / chronic / persistent Lyme disease is unknown.
Diagnosis
There is much speculation regarding the many hypotheses for this but no conclusive evidence for the transition to PTLDS exists yet. Furthermore, there is no diagnostic test currently available that can determine if Borrelia burgdorferi has been eliminated after treatment. Current diagnosis of PTLDS / chronic / persistent Lyme disease is based on symptoms, physical findings, and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.
To aid in the diagnosis, OMF is developing a patient-driven tool named “Personalized Automated Symptom Summary (PASS)” that is intended to aid a clinician to more efficiently define the character and priorities of symptoms for patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS), PTLDS / chronic / persistent Lyme disease, or Fibromyalgia.
The overall strategy is to reduce the time spent by a clinician to evaluate and diagnose a patient with a chronic illness. The intent is to bridge the communication gap between patient and doctor, helping patients to more accurately and efficiently convey their symptoms to their treating physician.
There are also no known treatments of the PTLDS / chronic / persistent Lyme disease, some patients get better over time, but that may take years, if ever at all.
Progress
Progress in ME / CFS research will help find answers to PTLDS / chronic / persistent Lyme disease and vice versa because there is more overlap than distinction.. Many people infected with Borrelia burgdorferi develop ME/CFS-like symptoms. Therefore, understanding ME / CFS and PTLDS / chronic / persistent Lyme disease is crucial to improving the lives of tens of millions.
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Support Open Medicine Foundation’s quest to find effective treatments and diagnostic tests for the millions of people affected by these devastating diseases!
References: Please visit our Strategic Partners to learn more about Lyme disease:
- Mayla Hsu, PhD, Director of Research and Science, Global Lyme Alliance, January 2021, Excerpts from “Does Chronic Inflammation Cause PTLD?
- Marques, A. Chronic Lyme disease: a review. Infect Dis Clin North Am 22, 341-360, vii-viii, doi:10.1016/j.idc.2007.12.011 (2008).
- DeLong, A., Hsu, M. & Kotsoris, H. Estimation of cumulative number of post-treatment Lyme disease cases in the US, 2016 and 2020. BMC Public Health 19, 352, doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6681-9 (2019).
- Bay Area Lyme Foundation
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. The information provided on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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