Research Tracker›Biomarker Atlas›Lyme Disease›CSF protein elevation

CSF protein elevation in Lyme Disease

CSF protein elevation, also described as Blood-CSF barrier dysfunction, is a csf marker reported as elevated in Lyme Disease (Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi infection) when patients are compared with Normal CSF. Clinically, it has been associated with neuroborreliosis, meningitis. The evidence summarised here comes from Lantos et al. 2021 and reflects averages across cohorts rather than any single patient's result.

↑ ElevatedCSFLOINC 2880-3

Summary

Direction in Lyme Disease↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group
CategoryCSF
Also described asBlood-CSF barrier dysfunction
Compared againstNormal CSF
Associated symptomsNeuroborreliosis, meningitis
Test typeTissue / pathology test
LOINC code2880-3
SourceLantos et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.idc.2021.05.001
Condition atlasLyme Disease Biomarker Atlas

Trials, interventions and tests

Commercial test availability

CSF Protein — commercial laboratory test. Requires lumbar puncture specimen.

Links are for reference only; availability, specimen requirements and coverage vary by location.

Related CSF markers in Lyme Disease

Full list: Lyme Disease Biomarker Atlas.

Frequently asked questions

Is CSF protein elevation high or low in Lyme Disease?

Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher CSF protein elevation in Lyme Disease than in Normal CSF. Source: Lantos et al. 2021.

What symptoms is CSF protein elevation associated with in Lyme Disease?

The cited literature associates this marker with Neuroborreliosis, meningitis. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.

Which test measures CSF protein elevation?

It is measured as a tissue / pathology test. The standard laboratory code is LOINC 2880-3. Commercial laboratories such as Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp list an orderable assay.

Is one abnormal CSF protein elevation result diagnostic of Lyme Disease?

No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Lyme Disease. CSF protein elevation findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). CSF protein elevation in Lyme Disease: direction, evidence and what it means. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/lyme/csf-protein-elevation.html
Get OSMF research updates. New biomarker, trial and treatment evidence summaries by email.
Subscribe on Substack

Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from lyme.json · Browse: Lyme Disease atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages

Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.