This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (7)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related article  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Genetics  • Genetic Counseling/ Testing/ Therapy  • Granulomas  • Alert me on articles by topic

Polymerase Chain Reaction and Serologic Studies in a Retrospective Case Series of 12 Patients

Robert R. Muellegger, MD; Wolfgang Weger, MD; Natalie Zoechling, MD; Steven Kaddu, MD; H. Peter Soyer, MD; Laila El Shabrawi-Caelen, MD; Helmut Kerl, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2000;136:1502-1506.

Background  Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a chronic granulomatous inflammation of the lips of unknown etiology, which may be associated with peripheral facial nerve paralysis and/or lingua plicata (Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome [MRS]). Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete that causes Lyme borreliosis, a multisystemic infectious disease with frequent occurrence of facial nerve paralysis. An etiologic role of B burgdorferi in various granulomatous diseases has been suggested. The present study was performed to examine a possible causative role of B burgdorferi for GC/MRS by B burgdorferi–specific polymerase chain reaction analysis of biopsy specimens from affected lip tissue and determination of B burgdorferi IgG and IgM serum antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot tests.

Observations  We examined a retrospective case series of 12 patients with GC/MRS from a Lyme borreliosis endemic area (median duration of disease, 8 months [range, 3-348 months]). Borrelia burgdorferi–specific DNA could not be 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-linked immunosorbent assay, and 2 patients (25%) had an IgM response, but immunoblot testing yielded negative results in all 8 patients.

Conclusion  The results of the present study do not indicate that B burgdorferi has an etiologic role in GC/MRS.

From the Department of Dermatology, Karl-Franzens University School of Medicine, Graz, Austria.

RELATED ARTICLE

Granulomatous Cheilitis, Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, and Orofacial Granulomatosis
Roy S. Rogers III
Arch Dermatol. 2000;136(12):1557-1558.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Granulomatous Cheilitis, Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, and Orofacial Granulomatosis
Rogers III
Arch Dermatol 2000;136:1557-1558.
FULL TEXT