Lyme disease rarely seen as MS.Lyme Disease Lyme disease, a nonfatal bacterial infection that causes symptoms ranging from fever and headache to a painful swelling of the joints. The first American case of Lyme's characteristic rash was documented in 1970 and the disease was first identified in a cluster at Rarely Seen as MS Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites, can produce a wide variety of neurologic abnormalities, some of which mimic the symptoms of MS. People diagnosed with multiple sclerosis have therefore been concerned that perhaps they have been misdiagnosed and really have Lyme disease, which can be cured with early antibiotic therapy. But multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease are not often confused, says Dr. Patricia Coyle, associate professor of neurology at the State University of New York (body) State University of New York - (SUNY) The public university system of New York State, USA, with campuses throughout the state. at Stony Brook, an area with a high rate of Lyme disease. In a recent study, the first of its kind in the U.S., she took 100 patients diagnosed with MS and tested their blood for antibodies to the Lyme-causing spirochete spirochete Any of an order (Spirochaetales) of spiral-shaped bacteria. Some are serious pathogens for humans, causing such diseases as syphilis, yaws, and relapsing fever. Spirochetes are gram-negative (see gram stain) and motile. , Borrelia burgdorferi Borrelia burg·dor·fe·ri n. A spirochete causing Lyme disease in humans. Borrelia burgdorferi The spirochete agent of Lyme disease, which contains several outer membrane proteins and a highly immunogenic flagellar . Only one patient tested positive, and an analysis of the medical records of that patient suggested the Lyme infection was coincidental. So there was not one misdiagnosis mis·di·ag·no·sis n. pl. mis·di·ag·no·ses An incorrect diagnosis. mis·di  ag·nose in this series. "Clearly, if you're in an area where the MS prevalence is fairly high and where Lyme disease is frequent, you're going to have some overlap," Dr. Coyle observes. "But in general we can now conclude, based on my findings, that it is very unlikely a doctor will misdiagnose mis·di·ag·nose tr.v. mis·di·ag·nosed, mis·di·ag·nos·ing, mis·di·ag·nos·es To diagnose incorrectly. Lyme disease as multiple sclerosis." This is especially true now that Lyme disease has been getting so much attention in the medical and lay press, even though many neurologists may never have seen a case. Dr. Coyle's findings, which parallel those reported in an Austrian study, were published in the June 1989 Neurology. Lyme disease was first identified near the town of Lyme, Connecticut in 1975; the tick carriers are presumed to be deer and field mice. |
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