Abstract
Lyme disease is a complex immune-mediated multi-system disorder that is infectious in origin and inflammatory or 'rheumatic' in expression. Through its epidemiologic characteristics, large numbers of a seasonally synchronized patient population are readily available for prospective study. Lyme disease has a known clinical onset ('zero time'), marked by the characteristic expanding skin lesion, erythema chronicum migrans, and a clearly defined prearticular phase. At least some manifestations of the disorder are responsive to antibiotics, and the causative agent - a spirochete - is now known. These advantages make Lyme disease unique as a human model for an infectious etiology of rheumatic disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 473-477 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - Dec 1 1984 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)