LYME BORRELIOSIS IN RHEUMATOLOGICAL PRACTICE - IDENTIFICATION OF LYMEARTHRITIS AND DIAGNOSTIC ASPECTS IN A SWEDISH COUNTY WITH HIGH ENDEMICITY

To prospectively study the prevalence of Lyme arthritis, 100 consecuti ve patients referred to a rheumatology out-patient clinic and 115 pati ents with a classified rheumatological disease were included. Individu als seropositive for antibody against the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu l ate complex were examined for clinical signs or a history of Lyme borr eliosis. Positive titres against B. burgdorferi s.l. were found in 7/1 00 and 15/15, respectively. Among the 100 referred patients, Lyme arth ritis was diagnosed in five cases. Carpal tunnel syndrome was the pres enting clinical feature in two of them. One of the 115 individuals wit h a previously classified rheumatological disease was re-classified as Lyme arthritis. All cases of Lyme arthritis improved after oral antib iotic treatment. This study revealed Lyme arthritis to be a common dis order in this part of Sweden and the diagnosis should be considered in patients with acute or recurrent episodes of mono- or oligoarthritis.