Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in multiple sclerosis patients

Neurology. 1989 Jun;39(6):760-1. doi: 10.1212/wnl.39.6.760.

Abstract

Lyme disease is said to produce a late syndrome resembling multiple sclerosis. We analyzed serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in 100 patients referred for possible MS. All lived in an area endemic for Lyme disease. Only 1 of 89 definite MS patients and 2 of 11 non-MS patients were antibody positive. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi is rare in MS, and Lyme disease is unlikely to play a significant role in the differential diagnosis of MS.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Borrelia / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / complications
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial