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) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 473-477 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - 1984 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
