Muellegger R R, Weger W, Zoechling N, Kaddu S, Soyer H P, El Shabrawi-Caelen L, Kerl H
Department of Dermatology, Karl-Franzens University School of Medicine, Auenbruggerplatz 8, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
Arch Dermatol. 2000 Dec;136(12):1502-6. doi: 10.1001/archderm.136.12.1502.
Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a chronic granulomatous inflammation of the lips of unknown etiology, which may be associated with peripheral facial nerve paralysis and/or lingua plicata (Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome [MRS]). Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete that causes Lyme borreliosis, a multisystemic infectious disease with frequent occurrence of facial nerve paralysis. An etiologic role of B burgdorferi in various granulomatous diseases has been suggested. The present study was performed to examine a possible causative role of B burgdorferi for GC/MRS by B burgdorferi-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis of biopsy specimens from affected lip tissue and determination of B burgdorferi IgG and IgM serum antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot tests.
We examined a retrospective case series of 12 patients with GC/MRS from a Lyme borreliosis endemic area (median duration of disease, 8 months [range, 3-348 months]). Borrelia burgdorferi-specific DNA could not be amplified by polymerase chain reaction in any of the 12 patients. One (13%) of 8 patients tested had a serum B burgdorferi IgG response on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and 2 patients (25%) had an IgM response, but immunoblot testing yielded negative results in all 8 patients.
The results of the present study do not indicate that B burgdorferi has an etiologic role in GC/MRS.
肉芽肿性唇炎（GC）是一种病因不明的唇部慢性肉芽肿性炎症，可能与周围性面神经麻痹和/或沟纹舌（梅尔克森－罗森塔尔综合征[MRS]）相关。伯氏疏螺旋体是一种引起莱姆病的螺旋体，莱姆病是一种多系统感染性疾病，常出现面神经麻痹。有人提出伯氏疏螺旋体在各种肉芽肿性疾病中起病因学作用。本研究通过对受影响唇部组织活检标本进行伯氏疏螺旋体特异性聚合酶链反应分析，并使用酶联免疫吸附测定和免疫印迹试验测定血清中伯氏疏螺旋体IgG和IgM抗体，以检测伯氏疏螺旋体在GC/MRS中可能的致病作用。
我们回顾性研究了来自莱姆病流行地区的12例GC/MRS患者（疾病中位病程8个月[范围3 - 348个月]）。12例患者中，聚合酶链反应均未扩增出伯氏疏螺旋体特异性DNA。8例接受检测的患者中，1例（13%）酶联免疫吸附测定显示血清伯氏疏螺旋体IgG反应阳性，2例（25%）有IgM反应，但所有8例患者免疫印迹试验结果均为阴性。
本研究结果并未表明伯氏疏螺旋体在GC/MRS中起病因学作用。
