Lyme disease Immunoblot Ig M
49.00 BGN
General information:
The method is used to confirm a result after testing antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi IgG/IgM, in which the values are inconclusive or do not satisfy the attending physician after treatment. In general, cases of mismatch (false positive antibody results) are more common in early testing for Lyme disease. The immunoblot method allows characterization of the immune response against individual antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi (more markers for diagnosis), which are different depending on the stage of the disease. The examination is appointed by a specialist in order to choose the correct confirmatory method, after serological antibody diagnostics. Immunoblot is not a suitable screening method. Its purpose is to confirm or reject a screening test result (borderline results) in clinically unclear cases, i.e. it increases the specificity of the serological test. Lyme borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by spiral-shaped bacteria from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Lyme disease is a multisystem disease that primarily affects the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart, and to a lesser extent the eyes, kidneys, and liver. The disease is considered the most common arthropod-borne infection in the temperate climate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Cases are proven in Europe, Asia, USA and Canada. In Europe (including Bulgaria), the main carrier of Borrelia burgdorferi is the Ixodes ricin us tick. Hosts for ticks are rodents, as well as large mammals such as sheep, horses, cows. Another condition is the presence of suitable vegetation - forest massifs, high humidity. For Bulgaria, they show two peaks of maximum activity - one in spring and a second, smaller one in autumn. There are three stages in the development of the disease: -early localized infection - early disseminated -late Lyme disease Important for the first stages is the development around the bite site of the typical erythema migrans (reddening of the skin with an oval shape of 30-50 cm). Appears between 10-15 days after the bite. Mild flu-like symptoms, shooting pains along the course of the nerves, pain in the joints and muscles, transient disturbances in heart activity are possible. During the stage of early disseminated Lyme disease, the causative agent spreads via the blood and lymphatic route. Weeks or months after its onset, the disease appears with multiple lesions (rash), with arthritis, endo- or myocarditis, neuritis, meningitis, encephalitis. Months and even years after initial infection and lack of adequate treatment, the third stage of the disease - late Lyme borreliosis - develops. Acute arthritis becomes chronic and leads to severe ankylosis of the joint. A lesion typical of the disease develops - chronic acrodermatitis progressing to skin sclerosis and atrophy. The nervous system is affected and progresses to chronic encephalopathy as a result of chronic meningoencephalitis. Clinical examination, timely diagnosis and treatment are important to stop the infection in its initial stage. Etiological treatment includes an antibiotic course, which initially leads to a complete recovery of the patient. Left untreated, the disease shows a spontaneous reverse development, but there is a danger of persistence of the causative agent and progression of the disease. With laboratory proof of the causative agent, antibiotic treatment is mandatory! In one third of the patients, there is no history of a tick bite, but erythema is found! Two-thirds of patients with chronic forms (arthritis, neuritis) also do not report a bite in the past! For this reason, laboratory diagnostics is essential!
Sample required:
Venous blood
Key words:
Immunoblot Ig M Lyme disease