Persistence of immunoglobulin M or immunoglobulin G antibody responses to Borrelia burgdorferi 10-20 years after active lyme disease

The interpretation of serological results for patients who had Lyme disease many years ago is not well defined. We studied the serological status of 7 9 patients who had had Lyme disease 10-20 years ago and did not currently h ave signs or symptoms of active Lyme disease. Of the 40 patients who had ha d early Lyme disease alone, 4 (10%) currently had IgM responses to Borrelia burgdorferi, and 10 (25%) still had IgG reactivity to the spirochete, as d etermined by a 2-test approach (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Weste rn blot). Of the 39 patients who had had Lyme arthritis, 6 (15%) currently had IgM responses and 24 (62%) still had IgG reactivity to the spirochete. IgM or IgG antibody responses to B. burgdorferi may persist for 10-20 years , but these responses are not indicative of active infection.