Over the past couple of days, the tension between both sides
of Morgellons Disease controversy has been rekindled. Why? Joni Mitchell’s
hospitalization and her long-term battle with Morgellons Disease have fueled
the ongoing debate- is Morgellons Disease real or just in the heads of those
suffering? In thinking about writing on this topic, I decided the best approach
might be a truce- a kind of safe meeting between the sides of this battle with
the chance to consider a couple of pieces of this puzzle found on pubmed.gov.
In 2009, Morgellons Research Foundation published a clinical
study meant to create a “…formal characterization of MD from detailed
examination of all body systems” (
Harvey et. al. 2009).
They created a lengthy list of common systemic symptoms, notably, “All blood
pressures were low and all resting pulses were high,” suggesting this condition
is physiologic, potentially easily diagnosed, and not created in the heads of
self-defined sufferers. Among the study
group were high rates of miscarriages and endocrine disorders. The study
concludes, “…the consistent abnormal findings in the data above may be used to
improve clinical diagnosis and possibly initial treatment in current patients.”
In short, Morgellons Disease appears to be systemic and much more than the
symptoms of fibers, crawling sensations and skin lesions.
The 2012 study performed by the Kaiser Foundation for the
CDC (
Pearson et.
al. 2012) while concluding “No common underlying medical condition or
infectious source was identified, similar to more commonly recognized
conditions such as delusional infestation,“ suggests sufferers are dealing with
a condition to be placed in mental illness . Some highlights include; “Over 75%
of our cases reported onset of their symptoms during or after 2002, but the
epidemiologic importance of this is unclear as it also corresponds to the time
when Internet postings related to this condition began to surface” (suggests MD
is internet meme), “A substantial
proportion (40%) of biopsied lesions had histopathologic features compatible
with the sequelae of chronic rubbing or excoriation” (suggests lesions are
self-created), and “The fibers and materials collected from case-patients' skin
were largely consistent with skin fragments or materials such as cotton and
were either entrapped in purulent crust or scabs, suggesting the materials were
from environmental sources (e.g., clothing) or possibly artifacts introduced at
the time of specimen collection and processing” (suggests fibers are
meaningless). Many of those in the Morgellons Disease community had hoped for
light and found themselves in an even darker place.
Currently, a search of “Morgellons Disease” on pubmed.gov
lists fifty articles (accessed 4/3/2015). Half of these peer-reviewed articles
present Morgellons Disease as a delusional condition (the majority of these are
found in dermatology related periodicals), seven discuss MD as real, and the remainder
appear as inconclusive. I invite readers to further explore what appears to be opposite
conclusions in peer-reviewed medical research.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Joni Mitchell and all of
those still suffering.
Sources:
Harvey, William T et al. “Morgellons Disease, Illuminating
an Undefined Illness: A Case Series.” Journal of Medical Case Reports 3 (2009):
8243. PMC. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
Pearson, Michele L. et al. “Clinical, Epidemiologic,
Histopathologic and Molecular Features of an Unexplained Dermopathy.” Ed.
Christophe Egles. PLoS ONE 7.1 (2012): e29908. PMC. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
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