The use of anti- C6VlsE in the assessment of the effectivness of Lyme disease treatment – a preliminary report

Abstract

Authors' contribution Wkład autorów: A. Study design/planning zaplanowanie badań B. Data collection/entry zebranie danych C. Data analysis/statistics dane-analiza i statystyki D. Data interpretation interpretacja danych E. Preparation of manuscript przygotowanie artykułu F. literature analysis/search wyszukiwanie i analiza literatury G. Funds collection zebranie funduszy Summary Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of changes in IgG anti-C6VlsE concentration in patients treated for lyme borreliosis in relation to clinical manifestations of the disease. Material and methods. The study group consisted of 20 patients from Ternopil and surrounding areas (Western Ukraine) with clinical symptoms of lyme borreliosis. IgG anti-C6VlsE was measured three times: before starting the patients on antibiotic therapy, immediately after its completion and 3-4 months after the end of antibiotic therapy. Results. In 40% of the patients the IgG anti-C6VlsE concentration decreased 3-4 months after the treatment, but only in half of them it was associated with elimination of symptoms. 60% of patients did not show any tendency to decrease in IgG anti-C6VlsE concentrations after 3-4 months after the treatment, and 25% of patients in this group had an improvement in health condition. Conclusions. It cannot be excluded that IgG anti-C6VlsE may be important in the serological evaluation of the efficacy of lyme borreliosis treatment, especially in early stage patients. However, this requires further research, which should be extended to a larger group of patients. It is also important that the assessment of anti-C6VlsE antibody concentration should be performed additionally for a period longer than 4 months from the end of antibiotic therapy.

Analysis of selected serological parameters in patients with diagnosed Lyme borreliosis and in seropositive patients with no clinical symptoms

“…The moment of tick attachment to the skin is not always noticed and therefore cannot be a decisive criterion for assessment of the risk of the disease. Studies conducted by Shkilna et al [26] have shown that 70% of patients with clinical symptoms of Lyme borreliosis and current anti-Borreliella antibodies declared the occurrence of tick bites (single bites -35%, double bites [27]. In the group of patients with Lyme borreliosis symptoms qualified for antibiotic therapy, 20% did not notice a tick attached to their skin.…”