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Tetens MM, Omland LH, Andersen NS, Bangsborg J, Bodilsen J, Dessau RB, Ellermann-Eriksen S, Jørgensen CS, Møller JK, Nielsen ACY, Pedersen M, Søgaard KK, Obel N, Lebech AM. Healthcare-seeking behaviour preceding diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis: population-based nationwide matched nested case-control study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2024:S1198-743X(24)00315-X. [PMID: 38992431 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify diagnostic opportunities, we investigated healthcare-seeking behaviour among patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) within 28 weeks before diagnosis. METHODS We conducted a population-based, nationwide matched nested case-control study (Denmark, 2009-2021). As cases, we included all Danish residents with LNB (positive Borrelia burgdorferi intrathecal antibody index test and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis). We randomly selected controls from the general population and matched 10:1 on date of birth and sex. Exposures were assignment of diagnostic codes for symptoms, contact to medical specialties, medical wandering, and undergoing diagnostic procedures. We calculated the weekly and 3-month proportions of individuals with exposures and calculated absolute risk differences with corresponding 95% CI. RESULTS We included 1056 cases with LNB and 10 560 controls. Within 3 months before diagnosis, the most frequent assigned symptoms were pain (difference: 13.0%, 95% CI: 10.9-15.1). Cases with LNB exhibited increased contact with most specialties, particularly general practitioners (difference: 48.7%, 95% CI: 46.0-51.4), neurology (difference: 14.3%, 95% CI: 11.7-16.8), and internal medicine (difference: 11.1%, 95% CI: 8.7-13.5), and medical wandering (difference: 17.1%, 95% CI: 14.3-20.0). Common diagnostic procedures included imaging of the brain (difference: 10.2, 95% CI: 8.3-12.1), the spine (difference: 8.8%, 85% CI: 7.0-10.6), and the abdomen (difference: 7.2%, 95% CI: 5.4-9.1). The increase in healthcare-seeking behaviour was observed ≤12 weeks preceding diagnosis. DISCUSSION Pain appears to be an ambiguous symptom of LNB, potentially contributing to delays in establishing the correct diagnosis. It would be difficult to identify patients with LNB more effectively as the increased healthcare-seeking behaviour preceding diagnosis is distributed across many medical specialties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte M Tetens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lars Haukali Omland
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nanna S Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jette Bangsborg
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bodilsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ram B Dessau
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand University Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jens Kjølseth Møller
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Vejle Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Alex Christian Yde Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirstine K Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Niels Obel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tetens MM, Omland LH, Dessau RB, Ellermann-Eriksen S, Andersen NS, Jørgensen CS, Østergaard C, Bodilsen J, Søgaard KK, Bangsborg J, Nielsen ACY, Møller JK, Chen M, Svendsen JH, Obel N, Lebech AM. Risk of heart failure among individuals tested for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antibodies, and serum Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seropositive individuals; a nationwide population-based, registry-based matched cohort study. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102345. [PMID: 38636178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) sensu lato complex. Previous studies have suggested an association between Lyme borreliosis and heart failure, which have been suggested to be a possible manifestation of Lyme carditis. We aimed to investigate the risk of heart failure among individuals tested for serum Bb antibodies, and serum Bb seropositive individuals. METHODS We performed a matched nationwide cohort study (Denmark, 1993-2020) and included 52,200 Bb seropositive individuals, and two age- and sex-matched comparison cohorts: 1) 104,400 Bb seronegative comparison cohort members, and 2) 261,000 population controls. We investigated the risk associated with 1) being tested for serum Bb antibodies, and 2) being Bb seropositive. Outcomes were: 1) a composite of heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and/or myocarditis diagnosis, and 2) redemption of cardiovascular medicine used for treatment of heart failure. We calculated short-term odds ratios (aOR) (within 1 month) and long-term hazard rates (aHR) (after 1 month) adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, pre-existing heart failure, and kidney disease. RESULTS Compared with the population controls, individuals tested for Bb antibodies, regardless of the test result, had increased short-term risk of heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis (aOR 8.3, 95 %CI: 6.7-10.2), and both increased short- and long-term risk of redemption of cardiovascular medicine (aOR 4.3, 95 %CI: 3.8-4.8, aHR 1.13, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.15). The Bb seropositive individuals had no increased short- or long-term risk of any outcome compared with Bb seronegative comparison cohort members. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, Bb antibody tests seemed to be performed in the diagnostic work-up of heart failure, but Bb seropositivity was not associated with heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte M Tetens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lars Haukali Omland
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ram B Dessau
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Nanna S Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Christian Østergaard
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bodilsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kirstine K Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jette Bangsborg
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Alex Christian Yde Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Kjølseth Møller
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Vejle Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sønderborg Hospital, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Jesper Hastrup Svendsen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Obel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tetens MM, Andersen NS, Dessau RB, Ellermann-Eriksen S, Jørgensen CS, Pedersen M, Bodilsen J, Søgaard KK, Bangsborg J, Nielsen ACY, Møller JK, Obel N, Lebech AM, Omland LH. Obtainment of prescribed analgesics among patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis; a nationwide, population-based matched cohort study. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102371. [PMID: 38936014 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radicular pain is the most predominant symptom among adults with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) but the duration preceding and following diagnosis remains unknown. We aimed to investigate whether patients with LNB have increased obtainment of analgesics before and after diagnosis and for how long. METHODS We performed a nationwide, population-based, matched cohort study (2009-2021). all Danish residents with LNB (positive Borrelia burgdorferi intrathecal antibody index test and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis) were included. To form a comparison cohort, individuals from the general population were randomly extracted and matched 10:1 to patients with LNB on age and sex. Outcomes were obtainment of simple analgesics, antiepileptics, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, tramadol, and other opioids. We calculated monthly and six-monthly proportions of individuals with obtainment of analgesics and absolute risk differences. RESULTS 1,056 patients with LNB and 10,560 comparison cohort members were included. An increased proportion of patients with LNB obtained analgesics from 3 months before study inclusion, especially simple analgesics, tramadol, and other opioids. Within the 0-1-month period after study inclusion, patients with LNB most frequently obtained simple analgesics (15 %), antiepileptics (11 %), and tramadol (10 %). Thereafter, obtainment of analgesics declined within a few months. A slightly larger proportion of patients with LNB obtained antiepileptics up to 2.5 years after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Up to 3 months preceding diagnosis, LNB was preceded by increased obtainment of analgesics, which suggests diagnostic delay. Importantly, most patients with LNB did not obtain analgesics after the immediate disease course, although obtainment remained more frequent up to 2.5 years after.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte M Tetens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Nanna S Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ram B Dessau
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand University Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | - Michael Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bodilsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kirstine K Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jette Bangsborg
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Alex Christian Yde Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Kjølseth Møller
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Vejle Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Niels Obel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Haukali Omland
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tetens MM, Omland LH, Dessau RB, Ellermann-Eriksen S, Andersen NS, Jørgensen CS, Østergaard C, Bodilsen J, Søgaard KK, Bangsborg J, Nielsen AC, Møller JK, Chen M, Svendsen JH, Obel N, Lebech AM. Risk of cardiac conduction disorders, and pacemaker implantations among individuals tested for serum Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies, a nationwide, matched, population-based cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2024; 30:621-629. [PMID: 38316360 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the short- and long-term risks of atrioventricular block and other cardiac conduction disorders associated with being tested for Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies or Bb seropositivity as measures of confounding by indication and Bb infection, respectively. METHODS We performed a nationwide population-based matched cohort study (Denmark, 1993-2021). We included 52 200 Bb-seropositive individuals (stratified as only Bb-IgM-seropositive [n = 26 103], only Bb-IgG-seropositive [n = 18 698], and Bb-IgM-and-IgG-seropositive [n = 7399]) and two age- and sex-matched comparison cohorts: 104 400 Bb-seronegative individuals and 261 000 population controls. We investigated the risk associated with being tested for serum Bb antibodies and being Bb seropositive. Outcomes were atrioventricular block and other conduction disorders. We calculated short-term odds ratios (aOR) (within 1 month), and long-term hazard ratios (aHR) (after 1 month) adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, chronic heart failure, and kidney disease with 95% CI. RESULTS Compared with population controls, individuals tested for Bb antibodies had increased short- and long-term risks of atrioventricular block (aOR 47.9, 95% CI: 30.0-76.7, aHR 1.3, 95% CI:1.2-1.3), and other conduction disorders (aOR 18.2, 95% CI: 10.1-32.8, aHR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4). Compared with Bb-seronegative individuals, only Bb-IgM-and-IgG-seropositive individuals had increased short-term risk of atrioventricular block (aOR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.5-3.1). DISCUSSION The results suggest that Bb antibody testing is included in the diagnostic work-up of conduction disorders. Finally, that Bb seropositivity is not associated with other conduction disorders than atrioventricular block or with increased long-term risk of conduction disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte M Tetens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lars Haukali Omland
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ram B Dessau
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand University Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Nanna S Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Christian Østergaard
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bodilsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kirstine K Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jette Bangsborg
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Alex Christian Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Kjølseth Møller
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Vejle Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sønderborg Hospital, Sønderborg, Denmark
| | - Jesper Hastrup Svendsen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Obel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Dulipati V, Kotimaa J, Rezola M, Kontiainen M, Jarva H, Nyman D, Meri S. Antibody responses to immunoevasion proteins BBK32 and OspE constitute part of the serological footprint in neuroborreliosis but are insufficient to prevent the disease. Scand J Immunol 2024; 99:e13353. [PMID: 39007994 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is the most common tickborne disease. Its neuronal form, neuroborreliosis, comprises 3 to 38% of borreliosis cases in Europe. Borrelia outer surface proteins and virulence factors, OspE and BBK32, have been previously reported to help cause infection by promoting attachment to human host epithelial cells and evading complement attack. We assessed the serological responses to BBK32 and OspE in 19 individuals diagnosed with neuroborreliosis to see whether antibodies that could both target the bacteria and neutralize the virulence mechanisms on the microbial surface emerge. Results evaluate levels of total protein, IgG and the chemokine CXCL13, a determinant for B-cell recruitment during neuroinflammation, in patients' cerebrospinal fluid samples. Antibody levels against BBK32 and OspE correlated with those against VlsE, a well-characterized diagnostic serological marker of the disease. A dual serological profile of the patients was observed. K-means clustering split the cohort into two discrete groups presenting distinct serological and CNS responses. One group contained young patients with low levels of anti-BBK32 and OspE antibodies. The other group showed stronger responses, possibly following prolonged infections or reinfections. Additionally, we assessed anti-ganglioside antibodies that could cause autoimmunity or complement dysregulation but observed that they did not correlate with neuroborreliosis in our patient cohort. The dual nature of antibody responses against the virulence factors BBK32 and OspE in neuroborreliosis patients may suggest the necessity of repeated exposures for efficient immune responses. Better protection could be achieved if the virulence factors were formulated into vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinaya Dulipati
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Kotimaa
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, Espoo, Finland
| | - Mikel Rezola
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer team, Paris, France
| | - Mikko Kontiainen
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Jarva
- Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dag Nyman
- Åland Group for Borreliosis Research, Mariehamn, Finland
| | - Seppo Meri
- Translational Immunology Research Program, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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