Liver function in early Lyme disease.

To evaluate the frequency, pattern, and severity of liver function test abnormalities in patients with Lyme disease associated with erythema migrans (EM), 115 individuals with no other identifiable cause for liver function test abnormalities who presented with EM between July 1990 and September 1993 were prospectively evaluated. For individuals with abnormal liver function tests, common causes of hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, and C, were excluded. A local control group was used for comparison.

Molecular typing of Borrelia burgdorferi from Lyme disease patients by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Ninety-three Borrelia burgdorferi isolates obtained from erythema migrans lesions or blood of Lyme disease patients in Westchester County, N.Y., between 1991 and 1994 were characterized by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA gene spacer.

The clinical spectrum of early Lyme borreliosis in patients with culture-confirmed erythema migrans.

Background: The diagnosis of erythema migrans (EM), the characteristic rash of early Lyme borreliosis, is based primarily on its clinical appearance since it often occurs prior to the development of a specific antibody response. Other skin disorders, however, may be confused with EM.

Methods: Between June 1991 and September 1993, a prospective study was conducted at the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center of the Westchester County Medical Center to isolate Borrelia burgdorferi systematically from patients with Em, and to characterize the clinical manifestations of patients with culture-documented infection.

Doxycycline versus tetracycline therapy for Lyme disease associated with erythema migrans.

Background: Doxycycline is widely used to treat Lyme disease associated with erythema migrans. Whether it is comparable to tetracycline is unknown.

Objective: We conducted a two-part retrospective analysis of (1) the safety and efficacy of doxycycline compared with tetracycline and (2) the safety and efficacy of a 14-day versus a 20-day course of doxycycline.

Tolerability, safety, and acceptability of zidovudine prophylaxis in health care workers.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and acceptability of zidovudine used for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission to health care workers.

Methods: Prospective study between January 1989 and December 1992 at a suburban New York City medical center of health care workers who had percutaneous or permucosal exposures to blood or body fluids of HIV-infected patients. The zidovudine regimen offered was 200 mg orally every 4 hours for 42 days.