Lyme disease serology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Muscle Nerve. 2009 Oct;40(4):626-8. doi: 10.1002/mus.21438.

Abstract

Lyme disease is sometimes part of the differential diagnosis for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Herein we report on 414 individuals with ALS at the Massachusetts General Hospital who underwent laboratory testing for Lyme disease. Twenty-four (5.8%) were seropositive, but only 4 (0.97%) had confirmed past immunoreactive infection. Two of these patients received ceftriaxone for 1 month without clinical improvement. Lyme disease was rare in 414 patients with ALS and is not likely to be causative.

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / epidemiology
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blotting, Western
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / immunology*
  • Male
  • Massachusetts / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Ceftriaxone