A little over ten days after the publication of the HAS new recommendations about Lyme disease, the French federation against vector -with tick diseases reacts.
- The French Federation against Tick Vector Diseases is opposed to the current publication of HAS new recommendations on Lyme disease.
- One of the main points of disagreement is the absence of the mention of chronicity and bacterial persistence that the federation indicates as can exist in certain patients.
- However, it salutes the fact that the has recognized the post-burreliosis syndrome of Lyme treated as a post-infectious syndrome.
Lyme disease is debated. On February 18, the has made public of new recommendations On this pathology, also called Borreliosis of Lyme, because the latter dated 2018. This Saturday, March 1, the French Federation against Tick Vector Diseases (FFMVT) published a press release to oppose it, denouncing one “publication tainted with several faults”.
An expected recognition of the existence of post-burreliosis syndrome of Lyme treated
Among the updates, some were approved by the Federation. “”The FFMVT is delighted that these updated recommendations finally recognize the existence of post-horreliosis syndrome treated or PTLDS (post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome). This is a subject that has already given rise to thousands of scientific articles. We also appreciate that the Lyme Long/PTLDS is finally considered as a post-infectious syndrome, in the same way as the long covid or that chronic fatigue syndrome”. In its publication, the has lists the symptoms of the PTLDS: musculoskeletal pain, unusual and disabling fatigue, cognitive disorders (concentration, memory) persistent for more than six months after the end of treatment.
A chronic form? “”Under these conditions, it is impossible for the FFMVT to put on these recommendations»
The latter go in the mere direction of a disruption of the immune system, but the has not mentioned of chronic form or bacterial persistence. Points that the FFMVT wanted to see appear. “”We have therefore never defended the idea that the only possible cause of the Lyme Long was a bacterial persistence, nor that the only relevant treatment consisted of prolonged antibiotic therapy, explains the FFMVT. On the other hand, we have claimed that this persistence could exist in certain patients, and should then be treated with antibacterial agents, prolongedly, as is already the case in the USA states most affected by the disease.»
To introduce these concepts, the FFMVT says it has proposed the introduction of the following paragraph to the HAS recommendations: “The physiopathological mechanisms underlying PTLDS, their variability according to individuals, are still very poorly understood. One of the unknowns concerns the persistence or not of the bacteria. This point remains the subject of a scientific dissensus. A school considers that this bacterial persistence is improbable, that no additional antibiotic therapy should be envisaged. Another insists that it is impossible to dismiss it. Different convictions therefore remain, as for the diagnosis and treatments. Some warn against unsuitable prescriptions, others recall that doubt must benefit the patient ”. A proposal which was therefore not retained by the HAS. “”Under these conditions, it is impossible for the FFMVT to put on these recommendations”Said the press release.
“Lyme Long”: “There is no publication that proves the effectiveness of TCC”
Last problem: in case of PTLDS, has “recommends personalized, global and multidisciplinary care“By a jurisdiction center for tick-related vector diseases (CC-MVT) or a reference center for tick-related vector diseases (CR-MVT), in connection with the attending physician.”Psychological support or even physical rehabilitation can also be offered”, Underlines the has.
On this point, the FFMVT is formal. “NIt was formally opposed to recommending cognitive behavioral therapies (TCC), in which the treatment would only be to “re-educate” the patient. Indeed, the TCC promoted by the proponents of psychosomatic theory are mental conditioning techniques aimed at making you forget its symptoms, with the objective of making its physical condition accept without bringing a curative effect. However, there is no publication which proves the effectiveness of CBT, and which can justify this recommendation in the Lyme Long”.
