title: Treatment trials for post-Lyme disease symptoms revisited.
abstract: The authors of 4 National Institutes of Health-sponsored antibiotic treatment trials of patients with persistent unexplained symptoms despite previous antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease determined that retreatment provides little if any benefit and carries significant risk. Two groups recently provided an independent reassessment of these trials and concluded that prolonged courses of antibiotics are likely to be helpful. We have carefully considered the points raised by these groups, along with our own critical review of the treatment trials. On the basis of this analysis, the conclusion that there is a meaningful clinical benefit to be gained from retreatment of such patients with parenteral antibiotic therapy cannot be justified.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Klempner
authors.forename: Phillip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Eugene D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dattwyler
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wormser
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; Clinical trials; Lyme disease; Post-Lyme disease syndrome