[The value of serological examination in neuroborreliosis]

Over a period of 18 months, 155 patients with indications for lumbar puncture (LBP) on account of neurologic symptoms were examined for specific antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (BB) in the serum and for production of specific antibodies against BB in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). Positive anti-BB-antibody-production in CSF was found in one patient and the clinical manifestations were consistent with the third stage of neuroborreliosis (NB). Three patients with NB as a tentative diagnosis were found negative for anti-BB-antibody-production in the CSF, and a clinical reevaluation excluded NB as a final diagnosis. The study showed a very high predictive value of the test for anti-BB-antibody-production in the CSF both with positive and negative results. The results suggest further that NB is of a low incidence in Denmark and not often misdiagnosed in favour of more well known diseases.