[Suspected syphilis during pregnancy due to cross reactions in Borrelia infection]

Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1988 Sep 30;113(39):1511-4. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1067843.
[Article in German]

Abstract

A weakly positive titre (1:20) in the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test and a highly positive titre (1:1280) in the fluorescence Treponema antibody absorption test, but negative result for IgM antibodies, were found in the serum of a 23-year-old pregnant woman. The cardiolipin microflocculation test was at first borderline positive, but negative on repeat. In the absence of a history of syphilis tests for Borrelia antibodies were performed. Those for antibodies against B. burgdorferi were highly positive in the ELISA test (550 units), in the indirect Borrelia immunofluorescence test 1:1280 for IgG antibodies and 1:160 for IgM antibodies. In the Borrelia-specific indirect haemagglutination test, which measures both IgG and IgM antibodies, the titres were 1:640 to 1:1280. These results confirmed the presence of an infection with B. burgdorferi and not with Treponema pallidum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Borrelia / immunology*
  • Cross Reactions*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • Syphilis / diagnosis*
  • Syphilis / immunology
  • Syphilis Serodiagnosis
  • Treponema pallidum / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M