Three patients with multi-year histories of relapsing and remitting
Lyme disease and associated
co-infections despite extended
antibiotic therapy were each given double-dose
dapsone combination
therapy (
DDD CT) for a total of 7-8 weeks. At the completion of
therapy, all three patients' major Lyme symptoms remained in remission for a period of 25-30 months. A retrospective chart review of 37 additional patients undergoing
DDD CT
therapy (40 patients in total) was also performed, which demonstrated tick-borne symptom improvements in 98% of patients, with 45% remaining in remission for 1 year or longer. In conclusion, double-dose
dapsone therapy could represent a novel and effective anti-infective strategy in
chronic Lyme disease/
post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), especially in those individuals who have failed regular dose
dapsone combination
therapy (DDS CT) or standard
antibiotic protocols. A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of
DDD CT in those individuals with
chronic Lyme disease/PTLDS.