Polymerase chain reaction of Borrelia burgdorferi flagellin gene in Shulman syndrome.
A 49-year-old man presented a progressive swelling and induration of the skin resulting in flexion contracture. He had a history of two tick bites at the age of 17 and 47 years. Serum anti-Borrelia-burgdorferi antibody was positive; isolation of B. burgdorferi from the skin lesion was unsuccessful. He had eosinophilia (white blood cells 8,300/microlitre, 33% eosinophils) and hypergammaglobulinemia. The diagnosis of Shulman syndrome (eosinophilic fasciitis) from clinical and histological findings was established. A part of the flagellin gene of B. burgdorferi was detected in a skin biopsy sample by using the polymerase chain reaction method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of B.-burgdorferi-specific DNA from a skin sample of Shulman syndrome.
Hashimoto
Y
Y
Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.
Takahashi
H
H
Matsuo
S
S
Hirai
K
K
Takemori
N
N
Nakao
M
M
Miyamoto
K
K
Iizuka
H
H
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004802:Eosinophilia; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011239:Prednisolone