Borrelia Infections Under B Cell-Depleting Therapies: A Systematic Review of Diagnostic Challenges and Outcomes With Special Focus on Neurological Forms.

ABSTRACT:

Context

B-cell-depleting therapies such as rituximab and newer anti-CD20 agents may impair humoral immune responses and reduce the reliability of serological testing. This systematic review aims to summarize reported cases of Lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever (RF) Borrelia infections in patients receiving B-cell-depleting therapies, focusing on clinical manifestations, diagnostic challenges, and treatment outcomes.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and the Web of Science Core Collection employing search terms linking B-cell-depleting therapies to Lyme borreliosis and to RF Borrelia infections.

Results

The most reported cases in the literature were neurological infections due to Borrelia; there were 11 cases of Lyme neuroborreliosis a

SUBMITTER: Cardot-Martin E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12820347 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature