D Lipsker1, N Antoni-Bach, Y Hansmann, B Jaulhac. 1. Services de Dermatologie, de Maladies Infectieuses and Laboratoire de Bactériologie des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. dlipsker@noos.fr
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The long-term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans has only rarely been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans in the region of Alsace, France. METHODS: In a prospective study, 56 consecutive patients presenting with erythema migrans at the Strasbourg University Hospital between 1995 and 1999 were examined and a Borrelia burgdorferi enzyme immunoassay was performed. Patients were treated with tetracyclines or amoxycillin. Patients were re-examined 6 weeks later and a telephone interview was performed in summer 2000 to evaluate the long-term outcome. RESULTS: There were 25 women and 31 men of mean age 49 years presenting with single (n = 54) or multiple (n = 2) erythema migrans lesions. At the time of diagnosis, 30% of the patients had systemic signs, myalgias or arthralgias and only 36% of 50 patients were seroreactive against B. burgdorferi. None of the 51 patients evaluated at 6 weeks and none of the 37 patients interviewed after a median delay of 3 years had developed complications attributable to Lyme borreliosis. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients treated for Lyme borreliosis in this part of France is excellent. Therefore, a complete clinical examination is sufficient as an initial evaluation and long-term follow-up is not necessary.
BACKGROUND: The long-term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans has only rarely been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans in the region of Alsace, France. METHODS: In a prospective study, 56 consecutive patients presenting with erythema migrans at the Strasbourg University Hospital between 1995 and 1999 were examined and a Borrelia burgdorferi enzyme immunoassay was performed. Patients were treated with tetracyclines or amoxycillin. Patients were re-examined 6 weeks later and a telephone interview was performed in summer 2000 to evaluate the long-term outcome. RESULTS: There were 25 women and 31 men of mean age 49 years presenting with single (n = 54) or multiple (n = 2) erythema migrans lesions. At the time of diagnosis, 30% of the patients had systemic signs, myalgias or arthralgias and only 36% of 50 patients were seroreactive against B. burgdorferi. None of the 51 patients evaluated at 6 weeks and none of the 37 patients interviewed after a median delay of 3 years had developed complications attributable to Lyme borreliosis. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients treated for Lyme borreliosis in this part of France is excellent. Therefore, a complete clinical examination is sufficient as an initial evaluation and long-term follow-up is not necessary.
Authors: Johanna Sjöwall; Linda Fryland; Marika Nordberg; Florence Sjögren; Ulf Garpmo; Christian Jansson; Sten-Anders Carlsson; Sven Bergström; Jan Ernerudh; Dag Nyman; Pia Forsberg; Christina Ekerfelt Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-03-31 Impact factor: 3.240