The erythema migrans (EM) rash, when present, is often the first clinical sign of Lyme disease. This study shows that EM presentations vary with age, sex, EM duration, body location, and timing of initiation of antibiotics. Understanding this EM variability can help physicians and the general public better recognize the rash and improve early diagnosis and treatment.
This study examines heterogeneity in symptom reporting in patients with well-defined post treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) in order to identify and characterize clinically relevant patient subgroups.
Delays in treatment are shown to significantly impact patient outcomes and indicate that improved Lyme disease diagnosis and prevention strategies are needed.
Objective metabolite-based measurements differ between Lyme disease patients that develop persistent symptoms following antibiotic treatment (PTLD) and those that are clinically cured. These differences could be useful in better identifying, differentiating, and understanding the underlying biochemistry of patients with persistent symptoms in Lyme disease.
Lyme disease infection and genetic susceptibility to autoimmune diseases may trigger breakdown in tolerance to self-antigens & contribute to dysregulated immunity, autoimmune illness, & persistent symptoms
This distinct PTLD microbiome signature presents a potential novel objective Lyme disease diagnostic tool and new avenue for therapeutics.
