Lyme borreliosis in Bell's palsy. Long Island Neuroborreliosis Collaborative Study Group

Neurology. 1992 Jul;42(7):1268-70. doi: 10.1212/wnl.42.7.1268.

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis (LB) causes a range of neurologic manifestations, the most common of which is facial nerve paralysis. To evaluate nervous system LB, we organized a neurologic collaborative study group in Suffolk County, NY, a region of high LB incidence. Between July and September 1989, LB serologies were performed on all patients with new-onset Bell's palsy. Seven of 32 had serologic evidence of LB at onset. One, initially seronegative, was highly seropositive 5 weeks later. In the five in whom we examined CSF, there was no evidence of intrathecal synthesis of specific antibody. In highly endemic areas, LB may be responsible for 1/4 of cases of Bell's palsy. Rarely, the palsy may occur prior to the development of a measurable antibody response, indicating a need for follow-up serologic testing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Facial Paralysis / etiology*
  • Facial Paralysis / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / complications*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial