[The recurrence of Lyme arthritis]

Lyme arthritis is a frequent manifestation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection. The relapses of Lyme arthritis are observed despite effective antibiotic therapy of acute Lyme disease.

This study was undertaken in order to determine the efficacy and tolerability of antibiotic treatment of Lyme arthritis with oral doxycycline and intravenous ceftriaxone and to evaluate the relapse rate of the arthritis after treatment.

The study group consisted of 64 patients. Twenty five were treated orally with doxycycline (Doxycyclini hyclas) 0.2 g/day and 39 were treated intravenously with ceftriaxone (Ceftriaxonum natricum) 2.0 g/day; treatment duration in both groups was 28 days.

The symptoms of arthritis were most often seen in knee joints--45 patients (70%), then in shoulder joints--20 patients (31%), less frequently in ankle joints, elbow joints. In all patients remission of symptoms was seen after the treatment. The relapse of arthritis was seen slightly more frequently among patients treated with doxycycline 36% (9/25) than among those treated with ceftriaxone--23% (9/35), p = 0.402. The relapse was observed most often among patients older then 50 years.

The relapse of Lyme arthritis was seen in about 28% of patients, mainly older than 50 years it and did not depend on the antibiotic administered.