The Many Faces of Solitary and Multiple Erythema Migrans
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-1549
Abstract:
Case definitions for European Lyme disease have been published. However, multiple erythema migrans may pose a diagnostic challenge. Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and serological findings and response to therapy in a cohort of consecutive 54 patients with PCR-confirmed erythema migrans, referred to a university dermatology clinic. The proportion of patients with multiple erythema migrans lesions (usually 2 or 3) was almost equal (46%) to the proportion of patients with single erythema migrans lesions (54%). All patients, except for 2 multiple erythema migrans patients with a concomitant autoimmune disease, completely responded to treatment. In conclusion, multiple erythema migrans may be more common than anticipated, and since only 50% of the patients were seropositive when seeking medi-cal help, PCR testing of skin lesions is helpful to confirm the diagnosis in clinically atypical cases.
Key words:
Lyme borreliosis; Lyme disease; erythema migrans; multiple ery-thema migrans; Borrelia burgdorferi.
Authors:
Pernilla Eriksson, Marika T. Schröder, Kirsi Niiranen, Antti Nevanlinna, Jaana Panelius, Annamari Ranki
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, FIN-00029 HUS, Finland. E-mail: pernilla [dot] eriksson [at] fimnet [dot] fi