POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION OF BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI FLAGELLIN GENE IN SHULMAN SYNDROME

A 49-year-old man presented a progressive swelling and induration of t he skin resulting in flexion contracture. He had a history of two tick bites at the age of 17 and 47 years. Serum anti-Borrelia-burgdorferi antibody was positive; isolation of B. burgdorferi from the skin lesio n was unsuccessful. He had eosinophilia (white blood cells 8,300/mu l, 33% eosinophils) and hypergammaglobulinemia. The diagnosis of Shulman syndrome (eosinophilic fasciitis) from clinical and histological find ings was established. A part of the flagellin gene of B. burgdorferi w as detected in a skin biopsy sample by using the polymerase chain reac tion method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of B.-burgdorferi-specific DNA from a skin sample of Shulma n syndrome.