Erythema migrans in solid-organ transplant recipients

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Solid-organ transplant recipients often require chronic immunosuppression, increasing susceptibility to infections.
• Erythema migrans is the hallmark of early Lyme borreliosis.
• Immunocompromised individuals may exhibit altered immune responses to infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of standard antibiotic treatment for Lyme borreliosis in solid-organ transplant recipients.
• To assess the serological response to Lyme borreliosis infection in immunosuppressed patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of six adult solid-organ transplant recipients with solitary erythema migrans.
• Treatment with standard antibiotic dosages and duration for early, localized Lyme borreliosis.
• Monitoring clinical outcomes and serum antibody responses.

Main Results:

• All six patients experienced a smooth clinical course and favorable outcomes following antibiotic treatment.
• None of the patients developed a measurable borrelial serum antibody response despite successful treatment.
• Chronic drug-induced immunosuppression may blunt the antibody response to Borrelia burgdorferi.

Conclusions:

• Standard antibiotic regimens are effective for treating Lyme borreliosis in solid-organ transplant recipients.
• The absence of a detectable antibody response in these patients highlights the impact of immunosuppression on humoral immunity.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of altered immune responses in transplant recipients with Lyme disease.