2005: PCR in lyme neuroborreliosis: a prospective study.

1: Acta Neurol Scand. 2005 Nov;112(5):287-92. Related Articles, Links


PCR in lyme neuroborreliosis: a prospective study.

Picha D, Moravcova L, Zdarsky E, Maresova V, Hulinsky V.

First Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Second Medical Faculty of Charles
University, Faculty Hospital Bulovka, Czech Republic.

Objectives - DNA proof is the only widely available direct diagnostic
tool in Lyme borreliosis. Sensitive PCR detecting of spirochetal DNA
was prepared and a prospective study in neuroborreliosis was performed.
Materials and methods - 57 hospitalised patients with active
neuroborreliosis and proved CSF antibodies synthesis were examined.
Nested-PCR (utilizing three targets) was used for the detection of
specific DNA in plasma, CSF and urine. Results - Before treatment 36
positive patients (63.1%) were found in all tested specimens in
parallel, 28 patients (49.1%) were positive in urine, 20 in CSF (35.0%)
and 16 in plasma 28.0%). Later only urine was tested and the following
results were obtained: 17 positive patients (30.0%) immediately after
treatment, 8 (14.0%) after 3 months and one patient persisted
positivity after 6 months. Conclusions - The highest sensitivity of PCR
was achieved in the acute period of neuroborreliosis - 63.1% in three
body fluids comparing with CSF antibody synthesis.

PMID: 16218909 [PubMed - in process]

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