Granulomatous cheilitis and Borrelia burgdorferi - Polymerase chain reaction and serologic studies in a retrospective case series of 12 patients

Background: Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a chronic granulomatous inflamm ation of the lips of unknown etiology, which may be associated with periphe ral facial nerve paralysis and/or lingua plicata (Melkersson-Rosenthal synd rome [MRS]). Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete that causes Lyme borrelio sis, a multisystemic infectious disease with frequent occurrence of facial nerve paralysis. An etiologic role of B burgdorferi in various granulomatou s diseases has been suggested. The present study was performed to examine a possible causative role of B burgdorferi for GC/MRS by B burgdorferi-speci fic polymerase chain reaction analysis of biopsy specimens from affected li p tissue and determination of B burgdorferi IgG and IgM serum antibodies us ing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot tests. Observations: We examined a retrospective case series of 12 patients with G C/MRS from a Lyme borreliosis endemic area (median duration of disease, 8 m onths [range, 3-348 months]). Borrelia burgdorferi-specific DNA could not b e amplified by polymerase chain reaction in any of the 12 patients. One (13 %) of 8 patients tested had a serum B burgdorferi IgG response on enzyme-li nked immunosorbent assay, and 2 patients (25%) had an IgM response, but imm unoblot testing yielded negative results in all 8 patients. Conclusion: The results of the present study do not indicate that B burgdorferi has an eti ologic role in GC/MRS. Conclusion: The results of the present study do not indicate that B burgdor feri has an etiologic role in GC/MRS.