Musculoskeletal manifestations of Lyme borreliosis – a review

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The majority of reported cases of LB originate in the northern hemisphere, mostly in the US and Europe. One of the typical manifestations of LB are musculoskeletal symptoms; they may appear in any of the three LB stages. The diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations and confirmed by serological tests. One course of antibiotic therapy is sufficient for LB to dissipate in most cases, although for some patients, the symptoms subside gradually even after completion of therapy. Patients who have been demonstrated to have specific antibodies but are symptomless should not be treated. In instances where the advised treatment proved to be unsuccessful, patients should be referred to rheumatologist for additional diagnostics. The goal of this review is to update physicians on current scientific knowledge on musculoskeletal manifestations of LB.