INSTRUMENTAL ASSAYS FOR DETECTION AND VER IFICATION OF LYME ARTHRITIS

We used instrumental methods to characterise Lyme arthropathy in 79 pa tients with joint involvement and history of Lyme borreliosis. All of them had arthralgia and 45 of them also had arthritis. Radiological ex amination has established subchondral bone sclerosis in sacroiliac joi nts in 68% and sacroiliitis in 29% of the examinees. Scintigraphy reve aled polyarticular lesions in many cases. Ultrasound investigation has found inflammation and edema of periarticular tissues in the kneel sh oulders and hips. The level of antibodies against the causative agent Borrelia (in EIA) was significantly higher in patients with marked sig ns of inflammation in ultrasound examination. Thus, the combined metho ds of examination in the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis provide the most complete information.