Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
While some patients recover easily from Lyme disease, others suffer from it for years. A new study lifts the veil on the mechanism potentially involved.
Manifestations of Lyme borreliosis can persist in some patients for many years after a tick bite. Researchers may have discovered the cause of these persistent symptoms. Their findings appeared in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Emerging Infectious Diseases” journal.
Interferon-alpha plays a role in inflammation
In this new study, involving 79 people with Lyme disease, researchers found that an immune system marker in the blood – called interferon-alpha (a protein produced following a viral infection, editor’s note) – appeared to be higher in candidates treated for the infection and who had persistent symptoms.
If the level of interferon-alpha is too high, an infected individual’s immune system can overreact and cause “chronic inflammation, even after the infection is gone“, note the researchers.
Inconvenience can then occur such as pain, swelling or even fatigue. Fact, “we think it (interferon-alpha) is a possible driver of persistent symptoms“says Klemen Strle, study author and assistant research professor of molecular biology and microbiology at Tufts University.
According to the researchers, reducing the level of this protein in the blood could even be a “possible treatment option” against the persistent symptoms of the disease.
The survey nevertheless has some limitations: the panel of participants is small and the survey only identified a correlation (and not a causal link) between higher levels of interferon alpha and persistent symptoms of the disease. of Lyme. A larger clinical trial is therefore “necessary”, according to the researchers.
The immune system plays a key role in the infection
For his part, Dr. Eric Caumes, infectiologist, believes that the functional somatic disorders linked to Lyme disease are “discussed for years in the medical community“, GOOD “whether they be too often ignored“.
Bertrand Pasquet, president of the ChroniLyme Association, wishes to emphasize the key role of the immune system – specific to each person.
“What seems certain to us is that the competence of the immune system is a major factor. Some patients infected with Lyme disease will not even realize it, while others will develop severe and persistent symptoms. This would explain in particular why some patients are unable to “positive” tests, despite the infection: their body is unable to generate these antibodies.“, he explains.
Also be careful”too hasty conclusions” and to “therapeutic wandering“.
“Immunosuppressants are often administered to calm the immune system, while putting it under a bell jar causes the infection to flare up instead.“, warns the expert.
Faced with these persistent symptoms, many patients turn to alternative solutions to strengthen the immune system, “such as probiotics, herbal medicine… or even stool transplants“, admits Bertrand Pasquet. Research should explore this avenue to find out if it can lead to effective care.