Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi antigens in cerebrospinal fluid

Neurology. 1993 Jun;43(6):1093-8. doi: 10.1212/wnl.43.6.1093.

Abstract

We examined CSF for Borrelia burgdorferi antigens using antigen-capture ELISA and Western (immuno) blot. Antigen-capture ELISA was positive in 38 of 77 (49%) CSF samples obtained from neurologic patients with presumed B burgdorferi infection, compared with one of 34 (3%) CSF samples obtained from other neurologic disease controls who came from a region endemic for Lyme disease. Western immunoblot was positive for B burgdorferi antigens in 12 of 22 (55%) CSF samples from the B burgdorferi infected groups, compared with none of 11 CSF samples from the control group. CSF antigen detection should prove helpful in evaluating patients for suspected neurologic Lyme disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Bacterial / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial