ISSN:
1432-1076
Keywords:
Key words Lyme borreliosis
;
Facial palsy
;
Borrelia burgdorferi
;
Polymerase chain reaction
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Neuroborreliosis occasionally represents a diagnostic problem, especially in the early stage of the infection. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offers an attractive alternative to antibody testing. The aim of our study was to investigate the diagnostic potential of PCR in comparison to antibody tests in CSF of children with facial palsy. In contrast to other manifestations of neuroborreliosis, facial palsy is a well-defined clinical entity in which CSF findings allow an early distinction according to aetiology. The study included 17 children with neuroborreliosis, defined by the detection of specific IgM antibodies in CSF, and 20 children with facial palsy of unknown cause. Primers used for the nested PCR were generated from conserved sequences of the OspA-gene. Most of the cases in both subgroups have been examined within a few days after the onset of the paresis. Only in 2 out of 17 cases with neuroborreliosis could specific DNA be amplified. The PCR gave negative results in all cases of the control group. Conclusion The IgM capture ELISA is superior to PCR to support the clinical diagnosis of neuroborreliosis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004310050307
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