P. Hanner et al., PERIPHERAL FACIAL PALSY - ANTIBODY-LEVELS TO BORRELIA IN SERUM AND CSF, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 18(5), 1993, pp. 419-422
Serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi antigen were determined in 71
consecutive patients with an acute peripheral facial palsy. The study
was conducted for one year in a south western coastal region in Swede
n. Twenty-one per cent of the patients had significantly elevated seru
m levels of antibodies to Borrelia burdorferi antigen. CSF was examine
d in 13 of the sero-positive patients. In three of these (23%) Borreli
a antibodies were found. Another five patients had a pathological prot
ein and cell pattern in the CSF. No seasonal differences were observed
. Four of the sero-positive patients had a long-term history of dermat
ological neurological manifestations compatible with the late third st
age of the disease.