[Immunopathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis: lesson from Lyme and rheumatoid arthritis].

Arthritis is a common manifestation of late Lyme disease and can develop into an erosive arthritis with histopathologic similarities to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The development of persistent arthritis and in some cases cartilage and bone erosion is the result of autoimmune phenomena that develop after contact with Borrelia burgdorferi. Analysis of the host-pathogen interaction and immunopathogenic factors in Lyme arthritis are presented in this study.