NYMC Faculty Publications
Detection of IFN-γ Secretion in Blood Samples Collected Before and After Treatment of Varying Stages of Lyme Disease
Award
Research Article Published in Journal with Highest Impact Factor for NYMC First Author
Journal Title
Clinical Infectious Diseases
First Page
1484
Last Page
1491
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-20-2021
Department
Pediatrics
Second Department
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Third Department
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Abstract
BACKGROUND: QuantiFERON enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Qiagen) with Borrelia burgdorferi peptide antigens was previously shown to reliably detect interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in blood samples from adult patients with early Lyme disease and the response disappeared rapidly after treatment. We evaluated the response before and after appropriate antibiotic therapy in adolescent and adult subjects with more diverse stages of the illness.
METHODS: Blood was obtained from patients with clinician-identified Lyme disease with constitutional complaints, erythema migrans, nerve palsy, cardiac abnormality, or arthritis before (n = 68) and 6 weeks (n = 46) and 6 months (n = 45) after therapy. The sera were tested for Lyme disease by standard 2-tiered testing (STTT) and anti-C6 antibodies by ELISA and the levels of IFN-γ in the blood samples were detected by QuantiFERON ELISA.
RESULTS: A positive STTT result supported the clinical diagnosis of 37 (54%) subjects and anti-C6 antibodies were detected in 45 (66%) subjects, including 36 (97%) STTT-positive subjects, and the responses often persisted or expanded after antibiotic therapy. IFN-γ was detected in 49 (72%) subjects prior to treatment and the response most often significantly decreased 6 weeks (P = .007) or 6 months (P = .001) after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: The QuantiFERON ELISA reliably detected IFN-γ in blood samples from adult and adolescent patients with varying stages of Lyme disease and the response disappeared rapidly after treatment. Additional studies to more critically evaluate clinical utility as a laboratory test for diagnosis and confirmation of effective therapy are warranted.
Recommended Citation
Arnaboldi, P., D'Arco, C., Hefter, Y., Nolan, S., Jobe, D., Callister, S., & Dattwyler, R. (2021). Detection of IFN-γ Secretion in Blood Samples Collected Before and After Treatment of Varying Stages of Lyme Disease. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73 (8), 1484-1491. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/nymc_fac_pubs/3098