Deer tick bacteria DNA in joint fluid not reliable marker of active lyme arthritis
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 03:00
in Health & Medicine
New research shows that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNAthe spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticksin joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. Findings of this study are published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).