Four Lyme Disease Patients Develop Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS)
Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) refers to patients who remain ill after antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. In this Inside Lyme case study, I discuss four Lyme disease patients who continued to experience persistent symptoms after treatment.
Wormser and colleagues first described these cases in the journal Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease in 2019.
The authors set out to evaluate whether a 14-day course of amoxicillin would be safe and effective for treating Lyme disease.
However, at least four of the 24 patients included in the study remained ill on follow-up. These individuals were diagnosed with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).
Symptoms of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
The authors did not describe many of the symptoms commonly reported by Lyme disease patients. These symptoms frequently include fatigue, poor sleep, impaired concentration, headaches, lightheadedness, neck and joint pain, muscle pain, and paresthesias. Paresthesias refer to numbness, tingling, or a “pins-and-needles” sensation.
The study also did not address several complications of Lyme disease that are important to patients. These conditions may include Lyme encephalopathy, Lyme neuropathy, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), and neuropsychiatric Lyme disease.
Patients experiencing these symptoms may continue to struggle with persistent illness even after standard antibiotic therapy.
Persistent Symptoms After Lyme Disease Treatment
Some physicians interpret post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) as a non-infectious condition. However, the possibility that persistent symptoms could reflect an ongoing tick-borne infection remains an area of debate.
In my clinical experience, some colleagues remain reluctant to consider that persistent symptoms might reflect an ongoing infection, even though there is currently no reliable test capable of proving that infection has been completely eradicated.
Clinical Takeaway
These cases illustrate that some Lyme disease patients remain ill despite antibiotic treatment. Persistent fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and pain can continue to affect quality of life, highlighting the need for better understanding of PTLDS and persistent Lyme disease symptoms.
You can hear more about these cases through my blogs, social media channels, and YouTube. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about new case discussions and Lyme disease research.
You can read the full text of this podcast at:
https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-podcast-lyme-disease-patients-develop-ptlds/
How to Connect with Dr. Daniel Cameron:
- Visit the website: https://www.DanielCameronMD.com
- Call the office: 914-666-4665
- Email: DC******@*************MD.com
- Send a message: Contact form
- Follow on Instagram: Instagram
- Join the Facebook community: Facebook
- Follow on Twitter: Twitter
- Subscribe on YouTube: YouTube
- Leave a review on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We hope you will join the conversation, connect with us and other readers, ask questions, and share your insights.
Dr. Cameron is a Lyme disease expert and the author of Inside Lyme: An Expert’s Guide to the Science of Lyme Disease. He has been treating adolescents and adults with Lyme disease for more than 30 years.
Please note: The information provided here is general in nature and not intended as specific medical advice for any individual patient. For personal medical care, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
