Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Guidelines for the Management of Lyme Disease

The Controversy and the Quandary

  • Commentary
  • Published:
Drugs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Retraction of “the clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America” [letter — online]. Available from URL: http://www.ilads.org/files/press_release_l0_25_06.doc [Accessed 2006 Dec 8]

  2. Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation [letter — online]. Available from URL: http://www.canlyme.com/retraction_guidelinesO6.pdf [Accessed 2006 Nov 28]

  3. Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED, et al. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 43: 1089–134

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hamilton E. Lyme disease guidelines focus of antitrust probe [online]. Available from URL: http://www.courant.com/news/Iocal/hc-ctlyme1117.artnovl7,0,1670696.story?coll=hc-headlines-local [Accessed 2007 Oct 30]

  5. Kaplan RF, Trevino RP, Johnson GM, et al. Cognitive function in post-treatment Lyme disease: do additional antibiotics help? Neurology 2003; 60: 1916–22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Krupp LB, Hyman LG, Grimson R, et al. Study and treatment of post Lyme disease (STOP-LD): a randomized double masked clinical trial. Neurology 2003; 60: 1923–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caution regarding testing for Lyme disease. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005; 54: 125

    Google Scholar 

  8. Klempner MS, Schmid CH, Hu L, et al. Intralaboratory reliability of serologic and urine testing for Lyme disease. Am J Med 2001; 110: 217–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cameron D, Gaito A, Harris N, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2004; 2: S1–13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Strickler RB. Counterpoint: long-term antibiotic therapy improves persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis 2007; 45: 149–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jenicek M. Evidence-based medicine: fifteen years later. Golem the good, the bad, and the ugly in need of a review? Med Sei Monit 2006; 12: 241–51

    Google Scholar 

  12. Steinbok R. Guidance for guidelines. New Engl J Med 2007; 356: 331–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Steiner I. Treating post Lyme disease: trying to solve one equation with too many unknowns [editorial]. Neurology 2003; 60: 1888–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Auwaerter PG. Point: antibiotic therapy is not the answer for patients with persisting symptoms attributable to Lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis 2007; 45: 143–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Miles A, Polychronis A, Grey JE. The evidence-based health care debate: 2006. Where are we now? J Eval Clin Pract 2006; 12: 239–47

    Google Scholar 

  16. Tonelli MR. Integrating evidence into clinical practice: an alternative to evidence-based approaches. J Eval Clin Pract 2006; 12: 248–56

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

No funding was provided and there are no financial conflicts of interest. The author is a member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), but did not participate in the drafting of their guidelines. Although the author objects to the classification, numerous members of Lyme disease advocacy groups consider the author to be solely in the camp of mainstream medicine with respect to the Lyme controversy, and several initiated complaints to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia because of his public support for guidelines such as those of the IDSA. All have been reviewed by the College and rejected as being without merit. The author acknowledges his appreciation of the candour and commitment of numerous individuals and organisations on both sides of the controversy, and his deep concern for those who feel caught in the middle.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Room 452, D Floor, 2733 Heather Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 3J5, Canada

    William R. Bowie

Authors
  1. William R. Bowie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William R. Bowie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bowie, W.R. Guidelines for the Management of Lyme Disease. Drugs 67, 2661–2666 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200767180-00002

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200767180-00002

Search

Navigation