Final Submission

Regina Leonard
HI-224
Professor Wilson
August 20, 2023
 Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi carried by ticks and

transmitted to humans through a tick bite. Lyme is the most common vector-borne disease in

the United States with more than 200,000 new cases each year. Most people who are

diagnosed, don’t recall ever having a tick on them, or remember a tick bite. Lyme, if treated

early on, has a good potential to be cured and patients recover quickly. If gone undiagnosed, it

can cause a slew of complications and issues. It is important to spread awareness about Lyme

disease so that the public is aware and can not only protect themselves but seek treatment

promptly.

Some common symptoms of Lyme disease include rash (bull's eye), flu-like symptoms,

joint pain and weakness, numbness, brain fog, and heart racing. It is important to seek medical

attention if you have symptoms, even if you don’t remember having a tick bite. Early treatment

with antibiotics promotes a higher probability of recovery and cure. Common antibiotic

treatment includes oral doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime. If the disease has harsher

effects that include the heart or nervous system, then a doctor may prescribe ceftriaxone as the

preferred intravenous antibiotic to treat Lyme. An antibiotic regimen lasting 2-4 weeks is most

commonly prescribed and is sufficient to treat most early cases of Lyme. Some patients

continue to have symptoms after treatment and that is referred to as Post Treatment Lyme

Syndrome or PTLS.

“Some patients report persistent symptoms of pain, fatigue, or difficulty thinking even after

treatment for Lyme disease. The state of the science relating to persistent symptoms associated

with Lyme disease is limited, emerging, and unsettled.” (CDC, 2022)

 While there is no known cure for Post Treatment Lyme Syndrome, it is not

recommended to prolong the use of antibiotics to cure it due to the dangerous effects of long-

term use of antibiotics. There is some thought that PTLS is a result of Lyme disease triggering an

auto-immune response, which can happen with other types of infections. Post Treatment Lyme

Syndrome is becoming more and more common and the need for further research and

treatment options need to be at the forefront of research. “While PTLDS has been formally

recognized by the CDC and the NIAID, the medical community has a scarcity of credible and

comprehensive information and education on this condition. As long as this is the case,

physicians will not effectively address patients with PTLDS, and patients will continue to suffer

without answers or proper treatment. This review focuses on the necessity for uniform

guidelines for the diagnosis and standardized treatment regimens for PTLDS patients.”

(Maksimyan, Syed, Soti, (Oct 12, 2021). National Library of Medicine)

While the traditional treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics, research and

studies are being done on other treatments as well as treatments for late-stage Lyme and

patients with PTLDS. During my research for this assignment, I came across some information

on the use of stem cell treatment being used in trials and studied as another possible option to

treat Lyme. Specifically, the use of mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells can be

administered intravenously or by injection to the tick bite site or in the affected joints. Stem

cells target the immune system which promotes healing and can help to treat inflammation and

improve tissue repair. Stem Cell treatment had shown effectiveness in the early stages and

could be a good alternative for Lyme patients with late-stage Lyme, patients for whom other

treatments didn’t work, and for the treatment of PTLDS. “Clinical trials on stem cell therapy for
PTLDS are still in the early stages, but early results are promising. In a small study, patients with

PTLDS who received mesenchymal stem cell therapy experienced significant improvements in

fatigue, joint pain, and cognitive function. Another study found that stem cell therapy improved

immune function in patients with PTLDS” (Cona, L. (2023 April 24). Stem Cell Therapy Lyme

Disease Breakthrough. DVCstem.com. It is promising to see clinical trials and success early on

with new treatments such as this one. Stem cell treatment could potentially be an option for

Lyme patients and if successful, could be a good alternative to antibiotic treatment and help to

reduce the risks of resistance associated with antibiotic treatments.

In conclusion, Lyme disease affects many people, not just here in the State of Maine, but

across the country and more and more cases are being reported each year. There is still so much

to learn about this disease and how it affects individuals, both short-term and long-term. I was

pleased to discover, during my research, that Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome is gaining

more attention. This disease can affect people's daily lives and for some, it is fatal. It is vital that

the medical community continue work and research on Lyme disease and that we as a whole

spread awareness to help prevent the spread.

 References

A targeted antibiotic for treating Lyme disease. (2021, November 9). National Institutes of

Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/targeted-antibiotic-

treating-lyme-disease

Bratton, R. L., Whiteside, J., Hovan, M. J., Engle, R., & Edwards, F. W. (2008). Diagnosis and

treatment of Lyme disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.4065/83.5.566

Cona, L. A., MD. (2023). Stem cell therapy: Lyme Disease breakthrough in 2023?

www.dvcstem.com. https://www.dvcstem.com/post/stem-cell-therapy-for-lyme-

disease#:~:text=Stem%20cell%20therapy%20is%20a%20newer%20treatment%20option

%20for%20Lyme,response%2C%20and%20promote%20tissue%20repair.

Current research studies. (2019, January 18). Lyme Disease.

https://www.columbia-lyme.org/clinical-trials

Lyme disease home | CDC. (2022, January 19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html

Maksimyan, S., Syed, M. S., & Soti, V. (2021). Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: Need

for diagnosis and treatment. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.18703

Waddell, L., Greig, J., Mascarenhas, M., Harding, S., Lindsay, R., & Ogden, N. H. (2016). The

Accuracy of Diagnostic Tests for Lyme Disease in Humans, A Systematic Review and
Meta-Analysis of North American Research. PLOS ONE, 11(12), e0168613.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168613