S. Lori Brown

Role of Serology in the Diagnosis of Lyme Disease

Numerous concerns regarding the potential for misdiagnosis of Lyme disease using commercial assays have been voiced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We attempted to clarify the clinical value of serologic testing for Lyme disease using the results of commonly marketed assays for detecting antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi, the organism that causes Lyme disease. We reviewed published studies on B burgdorferi test performance published through 1998, package insert labeling from FDA-cleared test kits for B burgdorferi, and Lyme Disease Survey Set LY-A from the College of American Pathologists. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of commercial serologic tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunofluorescence antibody [IFA], and immunodot) for diagnosis of Lyme disease. To reduce this risk of misdiagnosis, it is important that clinicians understand the performance characteristics and limitations of these tests. These tests, in common use in clinical or commercial laboratories, should be used only to support a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease, not as the primary basis for making diagnostic or treatment decisions. Serologic testing is not useful early in the course of Lyme disease because of the low sensitivity of tests in early disease. Serologic testing may be more useful in later disease, at which time sensitivity and specificity of the test are improved. Positive or equivocal results on an ELISA, IFA, or immunodot assay requires supplemental testing with a Western blot assay. A negative result on the Western blot or ELISA indicates that there is no serologic evidence of infection by B burgdorferi at the time the sample was drawn.

Epidemiology of silicone-gel breast implants

Silicone breast implants have been marketed in the United States since 1963. Questions remain unanswered on the safety of these medical devices despite their popularity and availability. In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration restricted the availability of silicone-gel breast implants to women requiring them for reconstruction after breast cancer or for other medical indications. Inflatable saline breast implants have remained available for either reconstruction or for cosmetic augmentation while manufacturers completed studies addressing issues of safety and effectiveness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has less concern today regarding a putative association between breast implants and autoimmune disease because of epidemiologic studies that have indicated that there is not a large increase in risk for connective tissue disease in women with breast implants. These studies have not ruled out a small increase in risk of connective tissue disease to these women nor have they addressed the issue of an atypical syndrome related to silicone. The FDA has continuing concerns over local complications that are related to breast implants. The current review provides a brief discussion of the regulatory history of silicone implants and of FDA concerns over breast implants, implant prevalence, studies of systemic and local complications related to breast implants, and a brief description of the FDA study of silicone-gel breast implant rupture.