Chemokines constitute a group of proinflammatory cytokines with a strong chemotactic activity towards different populations of leukocytes. Their role in Lyme borreliosis has not been confirmed, although in vitro studies suggest possibility of chemokine synthesis during Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The aim of present study was to evaluate concentrations of chemokines: interleukin 8 (IL-8) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha and 1 beta (MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta) in serum of patients with early clinical manifestation of Lyme borreliosis--erythema migrans (EM). Study group consisted of 20 patients with EM, control group of 12 healthy blood donors. Chemokine concentrations were measured with ELISA assays twice: before (examination 1) and after two weeks of antibiotic therapy (examination 2). Mean serum concentrations of IL-8, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta in examination 1 and of MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta in examination 2 were significantly higher in comparison with control group. Chemokine concentrations were also significantly lower in examination 2 then in examination 1. These results show expression of IL-8, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta in the course of EM and suggest their role in the inflammatory response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection.