title: Screening for neuroborreliosis in patients with stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, can cause different neurological manifestations. We studied the prevalence of Lyme neuroborreliosis in patients with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 1-year period, sera from patients with cerebral thrombosis or transient ischemic attack without cardioembolism were investigated for antibodies against B burgdorferi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One of 281 patients had a positive serum immunoglobulin M titer and 23 of 281 (8%) had positive serum immunoglobulin G titers against B burgdorferi. One of the 24 seropositive patients, with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack due to dysphasia, had a lymphocytic pleocytosis and intrathecal antibody production against B burgdorferi. The medical history revealed a 9-month period of general and neurological symptoms compatible with Lyme neuroborreliosis before the strokelike incidents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that Lyme neuroborreliosis may imitate stroke, but screening for antibodies against B burgdorferi seems to be of little value and may be replaced by a careful medical history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammers-Berggren
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröndahl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Arbin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stiernstedt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M