Abstract
Objective. – To evaluate the diagnosis value of systematic serological testing for Lyme borreliosis in patients with recent-onset inflammatory joint disease, in a non-endemic area. Methods. – Inclusion of patients hospitalised in a French rheumatology department for recent-oncet (disease duration < 1 year) inflammatory joint disease, and living in a non-endemic area. For all patients, a careful medical history, including tick bite and erythema migrans, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and detection of serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (ELISA) were obtained. Results. – Ninety patients (39 men, 51 women, mean age = 48.1 years ± 17.9, mean disease duration = 4.3 months ± 4.3) were included. A tick bite was reported in one patient (1.1%), and erythema migrans in none. ELISA serological testing for Bb was negative in all cases. Conclusion. – These results suggest that screening for Lyme disease cannot be recommended in patients with early-onset inflammatory joint disease, living in a non-endemic area and with no clinical history suggestive of Lyme arthritis. Similar studies on larger populations are needed to confirm this conclusion.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call