title: [Multiple sclerosis or Lyme disease? a diagnosis problem of exclusion].
abstract: There is no diagnostic biological marker in multiple sclerosis. Thus, its diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. These criteria can also be found in other conditions. Lyme disease is currently among them. In a late period of the disease demyelinating involvement of central nervous system can develop, and multiple sclerosis can be erroneously diagnosed. We have evaluated a series of 55 patients with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and we have found evidence of infection by the causative organism of Lyme disease in three. We describe the three patients and we discuss the relationship between both conditions. We conclude that it is important to consider Lyme disease as a diagnostic possibility in patients with neurological disease of unknown etiology such as multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, SUNY, Stony Brook.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: García-Moncó
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miró Jornet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández Villar
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Benach
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerrero Espejo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berciano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
vernacular_title: Esclerosis múltiple o enfermedad de Lyme? Un problema diagnóstico de exclusión.