OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Lyme borreliosis persisted or had recurred in patients treated for erythema chronicum migrans and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. DESIGN: Retrospective follow-up study. Mean time between treatment and follow-up study was 8.8 years (SD, 66.6 years). SETTING: Department of dermatology. PATIENTS: Patients (N = 52) treated from July 1964 to October 1992 for erythema chronicum migrans (ECM; n = 44) or acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA; n = 8). Fifty-two of the 56 successfully contacted and registered patients agreed to participate, for a response rate of 93%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Signs and symptoms of Lyme borreliosis; serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. RESULTS: The interval from the time of diagnosis to study entry was 0.8 to 28.7 years (mean, 8.2 years). No symptoms or signs of active Lyme borreliosis were observed in the 52 patients. Antibodies to B burgdorferi were found in the ECM group in 1 of the 23 patients who received a recommended treatment and 2 of the 21 patients who received other treatments; antibodies were found in the ACA group in all 5 adequately treated patients who received a recommended treatment and in 1 of the 3 patients who received other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between serologic results and type of treatment or between serologic results and complaints or symptoms at the time of the study in either of the patient groups. The prognosis in most patients with Lyme borreliosis is excellent.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Lyme borreliosis persisted or had recurred in patients treated for erythema chronicum migrans and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. DESIGN: Retrospective follow-up study. Mean time between treatment and follow-up study was 8.8 years (SD, 66.6 years). SETTING: Department of dermatology. PATIENTS: Patients (N = 52) treated from July 1964 to October 1992 for erythema chronicum migrans (ECM; n = 44) or acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA; n = 8). Fifty-two of the 56 successfully contacted and registered patients agreed to participate, for a response rate of 93%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Signs and symptoms of Lyme borreliosis; serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. RESULTS: The interval from the time of diagnosis to study entry was 0.8 to 28.7 years (mean, 8.2 years). No symptoms or signs of active Lyme borreliosis were observed in the 52 patients. Antibodies to B burgdorferi were found in the ECM group in 1 of the 23 patients who received a recommended treatment and 2 of the 21 patients who received other treatments; antibodies were found in the ACA group in all 5 adequately treated patients who received a recommended treatment and in 1 of the 3 patients who received other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between serologic results and type of treatment or between serologic results and complaints or symptoms at the time of the study in either of the patient groups. The prognosis in most patients with Lyme borreliosis is excellent.
Authors: Franc Strle; Gary P Wormser; Paul Mead; Kanthi Dhaduvai; Michael V Longo; Omosalewa Adenikinju; Sandeep Soman; Yodit Tefera; Vera Maraspin; Stanka Lotrič-Furlan; Katarina Ogrinc; Jože Cimperman; Eva Ružić-Sabljić; Daša Stupica Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-05-30 Impact factor: 3.240