title: The presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in a group of multiple sclerosis patients in eastern Sicily. Preliminary data.
abstract: The authors evaluate the presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in a group of polysclerotic patients of Eastern Sicily, in order to verify or dismiss a correlation between Borrelia infection and demyelinizing syndrome. 460 samples of serum were examined, of which 60 belonged to patients affected by definite multiple sclerosis; the other 400 were taken from a group of apparently healthy subjects. From the analysis of the data obtained it can be seen that of the 60 polysclerotic subjects examined, 12 equal to 20% were found to be positive for the presence of IgG anti-Borrelia burgdorferi, while in the control group 30 subjects were found to be positive, equal 7.5%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Messina.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: di Bella
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Calisto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calimeri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Squeri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anzalone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lo Giudice
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial