The many faces of solitary and multiple erythema migrans

Acta Derm Venereol. 2013 Nov;93(6):693-700. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1549.

Abstract

Case definitions for European Lyme disease have been published. However, multiple erythema migrans may pose a diagnostic challenge. Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and serological findings and response to therapy in a cohort of consecutive 54 patients with PCR-confirmed erythema migrans, referred to a university dermatology clinic. The proportion of patients with multiple erythema migrans lesions (usually 2 or 3) was almost equal (46%) to the proportion of patients with single erythema migrans lesions (54%). All patients, except for 2 multiple erythema migrans patients with a concomitant autoimmune disease, completely responded to treatment. In conclusion, multiple erythema migrans may be more common than anticipated, and since only 50% of the patients were seropositive when seeking medi-cal help, PCR testing of skin lesions is helpful to confirm the diagnosis in clinically atypical cases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Erythema Chronicum Migrans / diagnosis*
  • Erythema Chronicum Migrans / drug therapy
  • Erythema Chronicum Migrans / microbiology
  • Erythema Chronicum Migrans / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Serologic Tests
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / microbiology*
  • Skin / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • DNA, Bacterial