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Liver function test abnormalities in early Lyme disease
M A Kazakoff1, K Sinusas, C Macchia
1Family Practice Residency Program, Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, Conn.
Archives of Family Medicine
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Early Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) often involves subclinical hepatitis, with nearly 30% of patients showing liver function abnormalities. This highlights a commonly overlooked aspect of early infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Hepatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, can affect multiple organ systems.
- Hepatic involvement in early Lyme disease is often underreported in medical literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatic dysfunction in patients presenting with early Lyme disease.
- To document clinical and laboratory findings associated with liver abnormalities in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A case series design was employed, analyzing data from 73 patients diagnosed with erythema migrans.
- Patients were recruited from family physician offices in an endemic area for Lyme disease.
- Liver function tests were conducted as the primary outcome measure.
Main Results:
- Twenty patients (27%) exhibited abnormal liver function tests, with elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase being the most frequent finding.
- A low percentage of patients (9%) had positive Lyme disease titers via ELISA, indicating early-stage infection.
- Detailed clinical and laboratory data for all patients were recorded and analyzed.
Conclusions:
- Subclinical hepatitis is a frequent, yet often unrecognized, manifestation of early Lyme disease.
- These findings suggest that liver function should be considered in the comprehensive evaluation of early Lyme disease presentations.