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Cerebrospinal-fluid profile in neuroborreliosis and its diagnostic significance

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Abstract

Selected cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) parameters (intrathecal synthesis ofBorrelia-specific antibodies, oligoclonal IgG bands, CSF-to-serum quotient of albumin as a marker of blood-CSF barrier function and cytology) and typical CSF profile in neuroborreliosis were evaluated with the aim of elucidating possible clinical and laboratory similarities of neuroborreliosis (NB) and other neurological diseases (OND). From the cohort of 58 patients (38 diagnosed for NB, 20 with OND) NB patients had positiveBorrelia-specific IgG antibodies in 97 % and positiveBorrelia-specific IgM antibodies in 55 %; oligoclonal IgG bands were detected in 55 %. The blood-CSF barrier was impaired in 89 %, positive cytology was detected in 97 % of the NB patients. Evaluation of specific intrathecal synthesis improves CSF diagnosis of NB, therefore, a combined CSF analysis has to be considered along with the clinical picture and medical history when formulating the diagnosis of NB.

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Abbreviations

Ab:

antibody, antibodies

AI:

specific Ab index

Alb:

albumin

Bs:

Borrelia-specific

CNS:

central nervous system

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

EIA:

enzyme immunoassay

ELISA:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EUCALB:

European Union Concerted Action on Lyme Borreliosis

Ig:

immunoglogulin

Ins:

intrathecal synthesis

NB:

neuroborreliosis

OND:

other neurological diseases

Q :

CSF/S quotient (CSF-to-serum quotient;e.g., Q Alb, of Alb)

Q IgG :

ratio of total IgG in CSF and serum

Q IgM :

ratio of total IgM in CSF and serum

Q lim :

limiting IgG or IgM quotient (see the text)

Q spe :

ratio of Bs Ab (IgG or IgM) in CSF and serum (related toQ lim:see the text)

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  1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty Hospital Brno, 625 00, Brno, Czechia

    J. Bednářová

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Bednářová, J. Cerebrospinal-fluid profile in neuroborreliosis and its diagnostic significance. Folia Microbiol 51, 599–603 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931625

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