No evidence for a spirochaetal origin of localized scleroderma.
We looked for evidence of a Borrelia infection in 15 patients with morphoea. We were not able to detect antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in any of these 15 patients. None of the 14 skin biopsies examined by immunohistochemistry showed evidence of spirochaetes. Skin biopsies were cultured in 10 patients. All were negative. These results do not support a spirochaetal origin of localized scleroderma.
Raguin
G
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Boisnic
S
S
Souteyrand
P
P
Baranton
G
G
Piette
J C
JC
Godeau
P
P
Francès
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000382:microbiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial