LINEAR SCLERODERMIC LESIONS OF THE NECK IN 2 PATIENTS WITH SEROLOGY AND PCR POSITIVITY FOR BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and the linear variant of morphea (loca lized scleroderma) are both chronic sclerodermatous skin disorders of uncertain and multifactorial etiology. The association with Borrelia b urgdorferi infection is still controversial. In some cases Borrelia ma y be the etiological agent of the diseases. In this paper we describe two children suffering for linear sclerodermic disorders of the neck, the first affected with linear lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and tho second with the linear variant of morphea. In accordance with the Lyme Disease National Surveillance Case Definition edited in 1991 the diag nosis of Borrelia infection was confirmed because anamnestic data were positive, Borrelia-specific antibodies were present in the sera, gene tic amplification of Borrelia DNA by polymerase chain reaction analysi s in the tissue resulted positive and moreover the dermatoses healed a fter specific antibiotic treatment. In our opinion Lyme Borreliosis sh ould br always considered in patients with sclerotic linear skin lesio ns and it is always advisable to perform Borrelia infection investigat ions in endemic areas.