Investigation of borrelia burgdorferi anibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis

Lyme disease develope in the presence of both Ixodes ticks and B.burgdorferi. In our country Lyme isn't among the notifiable diseases and very few data are available for seroprevalence. In our study we aimed to determine between Lyme and multiple sclerosis that have similar neurological symptoms by doctors was to draw attention to the need to differentiate. For this purpose,in the fourteen-month period, serum samples from 100 MS patients who were the under observation department of Neurology at the university hospital and first examined B.burgdorferi IgM and IgG positivity by ELISA method. B.burgdorferi IgM positivity in 8 of 100 patients (8%) and IgG in 2 of 100 patients (2%) were detected. Western blot confirmatory test performed with 3 of 8 IgM (3%) positive patients, while IgG positivity (2%) didn't change. Statistical analyzes based on arguments that are age, gender, occupation group, tick bite history, presence of ECM, pain and MS disease duration with the results by differences ELISA and western blot unchanged statistical result. In IgM ELISA result confirmed by western blot method and 5 false positive results found but statistically significant differences were'nt found (p>0.05). The samples that found positive screened for syphilis and any samples were positive for syphilis. According to B.burgdorferi IgG variant; period of 0-10 years and 11 years above, there were no significant differences between the MS patients that were found as p values calculated 0.03. Considering as average of 0-10 years with MS, B.burgdorferi IgG antibodies is observed to be higher. Western blot and ELISA method comparision results didn't differ (p>0.05). As a result; although small number of patients were positive a treatable Lyme disease, should be considered by clinicians that has given neurological findings, believe that.