Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38980540›Full record

ArticleInfection2025

Assessment of three criteria to establish borrelial infection in suspected lyme neuroborreliosis.

Katarina Ogrinc, Petra Bogovič, Vera Maraspin, Stanka Lotrič Furlan, Tereza Rojko, Eva Ružić-Sabljić, Andrej Kastrin, Klemen Strle, Gary P Wormser, Franc Strle

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. StreamliningJournal of medical microbiology · 2026
    Observational
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Katarina OgrincDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. katarina.ogrinc@kclj.si.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8134-749X
Petra BogovičDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Vera MaraspinDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Stanka Lotrič FurlanDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Tereza RojkoDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Eva Ružić-SabljićInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Andrej KastrinInstitute for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Klemen StrleTufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass, USA.
Gary P WormserNew York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Franc StrleDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Funding

Defining Host Genetic Factors in Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Lyme DiseaseR21AI144916 · NIAID · WADSWORTH CENTER · PI LIN, YI-PIN, STRLE, KLEMEN · 2019 to 2020
$449k
Defining Microbial and Host Factors in Innate Immune Responses in Lyme ArthritisK01AR062098 · NIAMS · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI STRLE, KLEMEN · 2012 to 2014
$398k
NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI144916NIAMS NIH HHS K01 AR062098Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency P3-0296, J3-1744, J3-8195University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia 20220127US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R21AI144916US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculosceletal and Skin Diseases K01AR062098
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDiagnosis of (European) Lyme neuroborreliosis has been based on clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and demonstration of intrathecal borrelial antibody synthesis (ITBAS) to document Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. INFECTION: It is not known if other criteria to document Borrelia infection may contribute to the diagnosis.

methodsWe compared the sensitivity of three individual criteria (ITBAS, CSF Borrelia culture, and the presence of erythema migrans [EM]) to confirm the diagnosis of early Lyme neuroborreliosis in 280 patients ≥ 15 years of age evaluated at a Lyme borreliosis outpatient clinic in Slovenia. The patients had either radicular pain of new onset or involvement of a cranial nerve but without radicular pain, each in conjunction with CSF pleocytosis. Evaluation was of patients who had each of the three confirmatory criteria assessed, and for whom at least one criterion was positive.

resultsAnalysis of 280 patients, 120 women and 160 men, median age 57 (range 15-84) years, revealed that ITBAS was the most frequently observed positive criterion (85.4%), followed by EM (52.9%), and by a positive CSF Borrelia culture (9.6%). Of the 280 patients, 154 (55%) met only one criterion (43.2% ITBAS only, 10.7% EM only, and 1.1% positive CSF culture only), whereas 42.1% met two criteria. Only 2.9% of patients were positive by all three criteria.

conclusionAlthough ITBAS was the most frequent criterion for confirmation for Borrelia infection, the presence of EM alone confirmed an additional 10.7% of patients and a positive CSF Borrelia culture alone added another 1.1%.

Indexed as

Borrelia burgdorferiLyme NeuroborreliosisAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, BacterialFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSensitivity and SpecificitySloveniaYoung AdultAntibodies, BacterialBorrelia burgdorferiCulture of Borrelia from cerebrospinal fluidErythema migransIntrathecal borrelial antibody synthesisLyme neuroborreliosis

Identifiers

PMID38980540
PMCPMC11825597

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.