False positive seroreactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi in systemic lupus erythematosus: the value of immunoblot analysis

The object of this study was to determine the incidence of seropositivity to B. burgdorferiby the commonly available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with SLE and other rheumatic diseases and to evaluate immunoblot analysis as a tool to differentiate true from false positive ELISA. Sera were obtained from patients with SLE (n= 35), rheumatoid arthritis (n= 26), seronegative arthritis (n = 28) and Lyme disease (n= 18). Reactivity to B. burgdorferi antigens was analysed by two available diagnostic techniques: ELISA and immunoblot. Correlations were made between seroreactivity to B. burgdorferiand standard serological tests of autoimmunity: antibodies to nuclear antigens, dsDNA, cardiolipin, SSA and SSB. Seroreactivity to B. burgdorferiantigens by the ELISA system was detected in 40% of patients with SLE, 8% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 4% with seronegative arthritis. Among patients seropositive by ELISA, immunoblots were negative in all cases. However, eight of 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (57%) showed cross-reactivity to multiple borrelial antigens. No significant correlations were found between Lyme seropositivity by ELISA and other autoantibodies except IgM rheumatoid factor (r = 0.61, P < 0.01 ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.In conclusion: a positive ELISA for Lyme disease was found in up to 40% of patients with established SLE and also in other rheumatic diseases. However, specific serum antibodies to Borrelia were not confirmed by the more specific immunoblot technique. We conclude that immunoblot analysis can help differentiate a false from true positive ELISA for Lyme disease. These findings should caution the clinician with regard to the limitations of current diagnostic testing for Lyme disease, particularly in patients with connective tissue disease.