title: PCR in lyme neuroborreliosis: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DNA proof is the only widely available direct diagnostic tool in Lyme borreliosis. Sensitive PCR detecting of spirochetal DNA was prepared and a prospective study in neuroborreliosis was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  57 hospitalised patients with active neuroborreliosis and proved CSF antibodies synthesis were examined. Nested-PCR (utilizing three targets) was used for the detection of specific DNA in plasma, CSF and urine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment 36 positive patients (63.1%) were found in all tested specimens in parallel, 28 patients (49.1%) were positive in urine, 20 in CSF (35.0%) and 16 in plasma 28.0%). Later only urine was tested and the following results were obtained: 17 positive patients (30.0%) immediately after treatment, 8 (14.0%) after 3 months and one patient persisted positivity after 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highest sensitivity of PCR was achieved in the acute period of neuroborreliosis - 63.1% in three body fluids comparing with CSF antibody synthesis.
authors.affiliation: First Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Second Medical Faculty of Charles University, Faculty Hospital Bulovka, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pícha
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moravcová
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zdárský
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maresová
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hulínský
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020852:Lyme Neuroborreliosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial