ABSTRACT: Cardio-Immu-Knowledgy of Lyme and Associated Disease Syndromes (cILADS): It’s not just about the bug, it’s not just about the microbe; it’s all about you.
There is increasing awareness of “Lyme Carditis” in the Lyme Literate world. It is my opinion that the spectrum of the involvement of the cardiovascular system in Lyme and Associated Diseases is still under recognized and underappreciated. The most frequent manifestation of heart involvement is “AV Block”. For many practitioners this is synonymous with “Lyme Carditis”. There is more to know.
Many common tick borne pathogens are culprits for a wide variety of heart and circulatory “afflictions”. Ticks and other vectors often carry more than one pathogen. Each pathogen has its unique immune interaction with the host leading to the cardiovascular manifestations.
Pathogens, alone, or in combination with other environmental and genetic influences can result in a wide array of heart and circulatory afflictions:
1. Conduction system –AV block is the most common and well known
2. Atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias: Premature Atrial Contractions, atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, Ventricular Tachycardia, and Sudden Death
3. Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy mimicking acute MI and heart failure
4. Valve infection including vegetations and perforations
5. Pericarditis
6. Endothelial invasion resulting in vasculitis and athero-thrombosis/atherosclerosis
7. Aneurysms in the coronary arteries and larger vessels
8. High & low blood pressure, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
I will review some basic cardiology and fundamentals of immunology in the spectrum of heart and circulatory responses to ischemic heart disease and infection. The innate and adoptive immune responses and auto-immunity are involved in clinical heart disease as well as Lyme disease.
For example, Borellia interacts directly with the mast cell involved in the manifestation of many cardiovascular disorders. Bartonella heneslea predisposes to atherogenesis by invading Endothelial Progenitor Cells, and may have a role in the global pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Multiple organisms form biofilms which shield organisms from antibiotics and clearing by the immune system, a potential contributor to persistence. The biofilm can also result in blocked flow through the vessel.
Treatment considerations will include an overview of cardiac and anti-microbial therapy including allopathic prescriptive and alternatives including herbals, energy medicine, ozone and infra-red therapies.
The emerging role of Membrane Medicine and focused nutrient therapy to establish healthy and structurally sound cell membranes in order to deter pathogen invasion and to facilitate recovery and regeneration will be presented.
SUPPORT THE LYME COMMUNITY, JOIN US IN CHICAGO AT ILADS 2018, AND LEARN MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE ABOUT LYME AND CO-INFECTIONS.
I HAVE SOME SURPRISING INFORMATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER!