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EFNS guidelines on the diagnosis and management of European Lyme neuroborreliosis
Author(s) -
Mygland Å.,
Ljøstad U.,
Fingerle V.,
Rupprecht T.,
Schmutzhard E.,
Steiner I.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02862.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lyme neuroborreliosis , ceftriaxone , neuroborreliosis , borrelia burgdorferi , lymphocytic pleocytosis , lyme disease , doxycycline , csf pleocytosis , cerebrospinal fluid , immunology , pleocytosis , lyme , borrelia , meningitis , antibiotics , pediatrics , encephalitis , antibody , virus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Background: Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a nervous system infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato ( Bb ). Objectives: To present evidence‐based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Data were analysed according to levels of evidence as suggested by EFNS. Recommendations: The following three criteria should be fulfilled for definite LNB, and two of them for possible LNB: (i) neurological symptoms; (ii) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis; (iii) Bb ‐specific antibodies produced intrathecally. PCR and CSF culture may be corroborative if symptom duration is <6 weeks, when Bb antibodies may be absent. PCR is otherwise not recommended. There is also not enough evidence to recommend the following tests for diagnostic purposes: microscope‐based assays, chemokine CXCL13, antigen detection, immune complexes, lymphocyte transformation test, cyst formation, lymphocyte markers. Adult patients with definite or possible acute LNB (symptom duration <6 months) should be offered a single 14‐day course of antibiotic treatment. Oral doxycycline (200 mg daily) and intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone (2 g daily) are equally effective in patients with symptoms confined to the peripheral nervous system, including meningitis (level A). Patients with CNS manifestations should be treated with IV ceftriaxone (2 g daily) for 14 days and late LNB (symptom duration >6 months) for 3 weeks (good practice points). Children should be treated as adults, except that doxycycline is contraindicated under 8 years of age (nine in some countries). If symptoms persist for more than 6 months after standard treatment, the condition is often termed post‐Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS). Antibiotic therapy has no impact on PLDS (level A).