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Morgellons Study – Observations
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029908
Some observations;
It is clear that the CDC was in complete control of this report. It is not clear who was the driving force behind this report. It’s doubtful that the person(s) who controlled the study is listed in the report.
Some of the authors do not appear to have the credentials or knowledge appropriate for this investigation as to the cause of Morgellons. For example, Kenneth A. Katz, MD specializes in gay sex diseases, Felicia C. Goldstein PhD specializes in cognitive disorders, and Allen W. Hightower is a statistician. The inclusion of Felicia C. Goldstein appears to have been mainly to label these patients as having a mental disorder - “delusional infestation.”
The precise criteria used to disqualify patients who initially qualified for the study is not specified. This study was limited to KPNC enrollees who had current or recent symptoms (<3 months). Mortality was never examined since time from onset to be accepted into the study was so short.
“In the absence of an established cause or treatment, patients with this unexplained dermopathy may benefit from receipt of standard therapies for co-existing medical conditions and/or those recommended for similar conditions such delusions infestation.” Illustrates the revolving door relationship between Big Pharma and CDC.
“One case-patient each had a positive or borderline EIA for B. burgdorferi, but none had a positive IgG WB.” The restrictive CDC surveillance criteria for Lyme disease very few can meet. The EIA/ELISA test recommended by the CDC is based on a single East Coast strain. There are 15 or more known West Coast strains. Positive results are less likely because of strain differences.
From Kaiser’s own guidelines…
http://www.harp.org/eng/kaiserslymesummary.htm
"The Use of Serologic Tests for Lyme Disease in a Prepaid Health Plan in California," Catherine Lay, MS et al (JAMA 2/9/94-Vol. 271, No. 6) Comment: Over a three month period, 117 patients out of Kaiser Permanente HMO site had Lyme blood tests done. Only one was positive.”
(Note; the samples were from a Northern California area endemic for Lyme disease. The samples were sent to American Medical Laboratory (now Quest) in Chantilly, Virginia. Kaiser continues to use this lab for their Pacific Northwest Lyme tests. Knowledegable people have told me this lab is known for its negative Lyme test results.)
At CDC, serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, Toxocara and Strongyloides. B. burgdorferi seroreactivity was determinedusing a polyvalent (IgM/IgG) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Vidas; BioMérieux Vitek, Hazelwood, MO) and separate IgM and IgG Western blot (WB) (Marblot; MarDx Diagnostics, Carlsbad, CA). Low-passage B. burgdorferi, strain B31, was used as the antigen source for both assays. B. burgdorferi seropositivity was defined based on the IgG WB as serum specimens were collected 130 days after illness onset. Specimens with at least 5 of 10 IgG diagnostic bands by WB were considered positive, in accordance with the CDC-recommended criteria. (None of the authors appeared to have any expertise in Lyme disease).
The obvious; “Total body photographs were done by a medical photographer to document case-patients’ overall skin condition and the distribution of lesions.”
Was the camera having delusions as well?
An attempt to depict the patients as drug addicts; “We found evidence of drug use in 50% of participants. Formication can be a side affect drug use (prescription and illicit) and drug withdrawal, but the extent to which case-patients' drug use contributed to, or was being used as a treatment for, the condition was not determined.”
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