title: Changes in Borrelia burgdorferi-specific serum IgG antibody levels in patients treated for acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.
abstract: The kinetics of Borrelia burgdorferi-specific serum IgG antibody values in 74 patients treated for acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans was analysed by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. At the last clinical control, there had been no clinical signs of active infection. The serological follow-up time ranged from 12 months to 5 1/2 years (median 2 years and 1 month). In 68 (92%) of the 74 patients, a significant decrease of the specific antibody values was found within 3 years after the initiation of therapy. In 53 (72%) of the patients, this decrease was found within 15 months. Most of the patients remained seropositive during the follow-up period. The results show that a significant decline of the levels of serum IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi can be expected in the majority of patients who do not exhibit clinical evidence of persistent infection after antibiotic treatment of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Karolinska Institute, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asbrink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Stedingk
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: von Stedingk
mesh_terms: D000169:Acrodermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015787:Erythema Chronicum Migrans / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G