Headlines - The French Academy of Medicine Condemns Misinformation About Lyme Disease

The Academy of Medicine, alarmed by rumors spread by pressure groups and growing concerns among a segment of the French population regarding Lyme disease, has issued a statement.In its view, "chronic Lyme disease," which is said to be linked to the persistence of the pathogen in the body for years, is based on the scientifically unproven hypothesis of a "crypto-infection" used to justify the use of prolonged antibiotic treatments. Similarly, the attribution of poorly defined, subjective symptoms (fatigue, cramps, muscle pain, tinnitus, sleep or mood disorders, memory loss, etc.) to this "chronic Lyme disease" is not supported by any evidence. It also specifies that the calibration of ELISA tests is necessary to limit the false-positive rate to 5%. Laboratory managers must resist requests from misinformed practitioners who are eager to confirm their diagnosis of “chronic Lyme disease” at any cost—including by altering test positivity thresholds—in the face of indeterminate clinical presentations.In her view, the claimed efficacy of prolonged antibiotic treatments—sometimes combined with antiparasitic, antifungal, or anti-inflammatory drugs—is not supported by any conclusive experimental data and is not backed by any randomized controlled clinical trials. On the contrary, such prescriptions are dangerous for the patient, detrimental to the microbial ecosystem, risky for public health, and costly for health insurance.Faced with patients suffering from chronic, unclassified symptoms who feel neglected, she believes that physicians must not resort to the easy diagnosis of "chronic Lyme disease" nor subject them to prolonged, unnecessary, and dangerous treatments. These patients must be able to benefit from multidisciplinary diagnostic care. In conclusion, the Academy of Medicine: 1. Confirms the validity of the current national recommendations issued by the 16th Consensus Conference of December 13, 2006, “Lyme borreliosis: diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive approaches,” as reiterated by the High Council for Public Health in its report of March 28, 2014, and warns against any scientifically unfounded calls for revision.2. Solemnly warns public authorities that, in order to address the concerns of patients misled by pressure groups, they would be yielding to the blackmail to which they are subjected without scientific basis and would thus bear a heavy responsibility for the adoption of inappropriate measures.3. Disapproves of the attitude of practitioners who resort to the misleading ease of diagnosing “chronic Lyme disease” when faced with patients who have not received a definitive diagnosis.4. Strongly condemns the disinformation campaigns conducted by pressure groups seeking litigation and financial compensation for non-existent harm.