The Comparison of Immune Indicators and Evaluation of Their Information Loads for the Diagnosis of Different Forms of Lyme Disease

The results of studies of immune and cytokine status in patients with erythemal (n=113) and nonerythemal (n=242) forms of acute Lyme borreliosis were presented. Determinations of correlations were carried out and the proportions of indicators associated with the clinical course of the disease were subjected to quantitative assessment. The immunological criteria for differential diagnosis of erythemal and non-erythemal forms of disease were identified. At the height of the disease, intensive production of IL-4 in the erythemal form and a high concentration of IL-8 in the non-erythemal form of the disease were established. In the convalescence period, increased production of IL-1 and TNFin the erythemal form of disease and increased synthesis of IL-8 in the non-erythemal form of Lyme borreliosis were observed. Also differences in expression levels of CD3 molecules, ratios of Th1/Th2 immune response options and functional activity of the phagocytic immune system were revealed. The erythemal form of the disease was characterised by high values of CD3+ cells and average levels of IL-8 production. The non-erythemal form was characterised by the lowest level of IL-8 production and intermediate levels of expression of CD3 and CD4 molecules.