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Long‐term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans in France
Author(s) -
Lipsker D.,
AntoniBach N.,
Hansmann Y.,
Jaulhac B.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.04628.x
Subject(s) - erythema migrans , dermatology , medicine , erythema , erythema chronicum migrans , larva migrans , term (time) , pediatrics , helminthiasis , pathology , immunology , borrelia burgdorferi , lyme borreliosis , antibody , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary Background The long‐term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans has only rarely been assessed. Objectives To evaluate the clinical characteristics and long‐term prognosis of patients treated for erythema migrans in the region of Alsace, France. Methods In a prospective study, 56 consecutive patients presenting with erythema migrans at the Strasbourg University Hospital between 1995 and 1999 were examined and a Borrelia burgdorferi enzyme immunoassay was performed. Patients were treated with tetracyclines or amoxycillin. Patients were re‐examined 6 weeks later and a telephone interview was performed in summer 2000 to evaluate the long‐term outcome. Results There were 25 women and 31 men of mean age 49 years presenting with single ( n = 54) or multiple ( n = 2) erythema migrans lesions. At the time of diagnosis, 30% of the patients had systemic signs, myalgias or arthralgias and only 36% of 50 patients were seroreactive against B. burgdorferi . None of the 51 patients evaluated at 6 weeks and none of the 37 patients interviewed after a median delay of 3 years had developed complications attributable to Lyme borreliosis. Conclusions The prognosis of patients treated for Lyme borreliosis in this part of France is excellent. Therefore, a complete clinical examination is sufficient as an initial evaluation and long‐term follow‐up is not necessary.