ACRODERMATITIS CHRONICA ATROPHICANS INVOLVING THE FACE - EVIDENCE FORBORRELIA-BURGDORFERI INFECTION CONFIRMED BY DNA AMPLIFICATION

In a female patient with increasing redness of the hands and face, pro teins of Borrelia burgdorferi were detected in a biopsy of the ear by DNA amplification. Although acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans has be en documented to be caused by B. burgdorferi, this is the first case w ith proven spirochetal presence in the skin of the head. After 2 weeks of intravenous therapy with ceftriaxone marked improvement of discolo ration of the skin was noted.