Lyme arthritis in The Netherlands: a nationwide survey among rheumatologists.
A nationwide survey among all 118 Dutch rheumatologists (response rate 85%) yielded 42 patients with Lyme arthritis. The arthritis was nonpersistent in all these patients. A tick bite was reported by 23 of these 42 patients (55%). Erythema migrans was recalled by 19 patients (45%). Cardiac manifestations occurred in 4 patients (9%) and neurologic symptoms in 14 patients (33%). By immunoabsorbent assay or immunofluorescence technique 37 patients (88%) had positive IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. The distribution of HLA-DR alleles of 28 of these patients was not different from the healthy population. The response to antibiotic treatment was considered good in 34 patients (81%). The clinical features of the Dutch patients with Lyme arthritis closely resemble the description of the disease reported from the United States.
Blaauw
I
I
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Nohlmans
L
L
van den Berg-Loonen
E
E
Rasker
J
J
van der Linden
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens