Rationale and Comments

The musculoskeletal manifestations of Lyme disease include brief attacks of arthralgia or intermittent or persistent episodes of arthritis in one or a few large joints at a time, especially the knee. Lyme testing in the absence of these features increases the likelihood of false-positive results and may lead to unnecessary follow-up and therapy. Diffuse arthralgias, myalgias, or fibromyalgia alone are not criteria for musculoskeletal Lyme disease.

Sponsoring Organizations

• American College of Rheumatology

Sources

• CDC, IDSA guidelines

Disciplines

• Rheumatologic

References

• Guidelines and statements made by the Centers for Disease Control and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/ diagnosistreatment/index.html.
  
• American College of Physicians. Guidelines for laboratory evaluation in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Ann Intern Med. 1997;127(12):1106-8.
  
• Hu LT. Lyme disease. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157(3):ITC2-1.
  
• Wormser GP, et al. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(9):1089-134.