Aim-To evaluate the diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
to detect Borrelia burgdorferi DNA in patients with ocular Lyme borreliosi
s.
Methods-Of 256 consecutive uveitis patients six selected individuals with c
linical evidence for Lyme borreliosis and 30 patients with non-lyme uveitis
were enrolled. Lyme serology was performed by ELISA and western blotting.
Urine samples were examined by an optimised nested polymerase chain reactio
n (PCR) protocol.
Results-Only four of six uveitis patients suspected for Lyme borreliosis we
re ELISA positive, while all six subjects showed a positive western blot. B
burgdorferi PCR was positive in all of these six patients. Whereas two of
the 30 controls had a positive Lyme serology, B burgdorferi DNA was not det
ectable by PCR in any sample from these patients.
Conclusions-PCR for the detection of B burgdorferi DNA in urine of uveitis
patients is a valuable tool to support the diagnosis of ocular Lyme borreli
osis. Moreover, these patients often show a weak humoral immune response wh
ich may more sensitively be detected by immunoblotting.