OBJECTIVE: By using the published incidence of Lyme borreliosis in endemic regions of the World, and the sensitivity and specificity data of the best Lyme serological tests, we computed the positive predictive value of Borrelia burgdorferi antibody testing. METHODS: The calculation of predictive value was based on Bayes' theorem. We also analyzed the frequency distribution of the specific and non-specific symptoms and complaints of 27,194 patients sent to the Centre for Tick-borne Diseases in Budapest from 1986 to 2008. RESULTS: This evaluation demonstrated that practitioners often use Lyme serology in a "trial and error" way, without any reasonable ground. According to our calculation the positive predictive value of the best Lyme antibody tests if applied in this way is <9.1%. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the present practice of applying Lyme serological tests may result in more harm than benefit.
OBJECTIVE: By using the published incidence of Lyme borreliosis in endemic regions of the World, and the sensitivity and specificity data of the best Lyme serological tests, we computed the positive predictive value of Borrelia burgdorferi antibody testing. METHODS: The calculation of predictive value was based on Bayes' theorem. We also analyzed the frequency distribution of the specific and non-specific symptoms and complaints of 27,194 patients sent to the Centre for Tick-borne Diseases in Budapest from 1986 to 2008. RESULTS: This evaluation demonstrated that practitioners often use Lyme serology in a "trial and error" way, without any reasonable ground. According to our calculation the positive predictive value of the best Lyme antibody tests if applied in this way is <9.1%. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the present practice of applying Lyme serological tests may result in more harm than benefit.
Authors: Reva C Lawrence; David T Felson; Charles G Helmick; Lesley M Arnold; Hyon Choi; Richard A Deyo; Sherine Gabriel; Rosemarie Hirsch; Marc C Hochberg; Gene G Hunder; Joanne M Jordan; Jeffrey N Katz; Hilal Maradit Kremers; Frederick Wolfe Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2008-01
Authors: J Berglund; R Eitrem; K Ornstein; A Lindberg; A Ringér; H Elmrud; M Carlsson; A Runehagen; C Svanborg; R Norrby Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1995-11-16 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Rendi Murphree Bacon; Brad J Biggerstaff; Martin E Schriefer; Robert D Gilmore; Mario T Philipp; Allen C Steere; Gary P Wormser; Adriana R Marques; Barbara J B Johnson Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2003-04-02 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Paul M Lantos; John A Branda; Joel C Boggan; Saumil M Chudgar; Elizabeth A Wilson; Felicia Ruffin; Vance Fowler; Paul G Auwaerter; Lise E Nigrovic Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2015-07-20 Impact factor: 9.079