Lyme disease and heart transplantation: presentation of a clinical case and a literature review

Background. Lyme disease, the most common anthropozoonosis, is a transmissible natural focal infection affecting various organs and systems. Also known as Lyme borreliosis, it is caused by Borrelia spirochetes, which are distributed by ticks of the genus Ixodes. Early diagnosis is difficult due to frequent occurrence of atypical symptoms, unnoticed tick bites, the absence of migratory erythematous lesions, and symptoms occurring during the nontick season. If not diagnosed and treated in time, dissemination of the infection occurs and various complications develop since borrelias damage not only the skin but also the nervous system, joints, and, in rare cases, the heart and eyes. Materials and methods. This article presents a clinical case of Lyme borreliosis-induced myocarditis, which led to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy and, consequently, urgent cardiac transplantation. According to our data, this is one of the first described cases of this complication in the world. Results and conclusions. When diagnosed in time and treated properly, the prognosis of Lyme myocarditis is usually good. In most cases, the atrioventricular block disappears within 1–2 weeks of antibiotic treatment and the implantation of a temporary pacemaker is rarely needed. In those rare cases of a chronic Borrelia burgdorferi infection, dilated cardiomyopathy may develop; thus if a sudden atrioventricular block occurs, the physician should be vigilant and perform the necessary tests to exclude the diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Download Full-text

AWARENESS OF LYME BORRELIOSIS OF THE PATIENTS OF TERNOPIL REGIONAL TB DISPENSARY

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.11603/ijmmr.2413-6077.2017.1.7810 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

L. P. Melnyk ◽

L. A. Hryshchuk ◽

M. Koziol–Montewka ◽

P. S. Tabas ◽

R. O. Klos

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Lyme Borreliosis ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Sufficient Information ◽

Tick Bites ◽

The World ◽

History Of

Background. Lyme disease has many clinical features similar tothose in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. Epidemiological data in the world, in particular in Ukraine, proves the increase in Lyme borreliosis incidence. Ternopil region is endemic with Lyme borreliosis.Objective. The research was aimed to investigate the prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and epidemiology features of borreliosis among the patients of Ternopil Regional TB Dispensary.Methods. In total, 29 patients were admitted to Departments of Differential Diagnostic, TB Therapy and TB Surgery of Ternopil Regional TB Dispensary in October 2016-January 2017. All the surveyed answered the questions of an integrated international questionnaire, where they noted the area and a number of tick bites, described the removal method, noted the survey for borreliosis pathogen and complaints after tick bites.Results. It was established that 5 respondents had a history of tick bites episodes, but only in one case the patient was examined of borreliosis. Tick bites were noticed in 3 patients with sarcoidosis and 1 with tuberculosis (TB) and exudative pleurisy, respectively.Conclusions. The absence of appeals for medical care, lack of sufficient information on Lyme borreliosis and disuse of preventive measures for tick bites by the interviewed patients of Ternopil regional TB dispensary departments proves the need of improvement of health education on Lyme borreliosis (LB) among this category of population. 24 (82.7%) of 29 respondents did not remember the tick bite. The symptoms of (LB) are similar to those in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis (pleural lesions, heart, joints, nervous system, skin), and the presence of tick bites gives the reasons to examine these patients of Borrelia burgdorferi senso lato.

Download Full-text

Scientific rationale for medical and preventive measures improvement in lyme disease endemic areas (based on the data of Udmurt Republic)

Kazan medical journal ◽

10.17816/kmj1961 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (4) ◽

pp. 517-522

Author(s):

N G Guznischeva ◽

A A Gilmanov ◽

I G Zakirov

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Lyme Borreliosis ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Erythema Migrans ◽

Tick Bite ◽

Tick Bites ◽

Medical Aid ◽

Udmurt Republic ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

Scientific Rationale

Aim. To provide the scientific rationale for medical and preventive measures improvement in Lyme disease endemic areas. Methods. Epidemiologic and biostatistical analysis of preventive measures holding in Lyme disease endemic areas was performed. Results. A decrease in mean longstanding prevalence of Lyme borreliosis by 31.5% was observed in the Udmurt Republic since 1999 to 2010. The tick-invaded area has increased by 25%, there was an increase in a borrelia-harboring ticks rate by 34.6%. The number of patients seeking medical aid because of the tick bites has increased by 25.4%, which can be attributed to increased social awareness. 62.5% of patients diagnosed with Lyme borreliosis were over 41 years old, the rate of unemployed patients was 61.1%. High prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in peasants living in highly endemic areas (southern part of the Udmurt Republic) related to low medical aid appealability due to tick bites and therefore untimely medical preventive measures, was registered. The prevalence of erythema migrans-free disease has increased 4.3 times. Among the Lyme borreliosis forms associated with erythema migrans, the 1.6 times increase in multiple erythema prevalence was observed, with increase by 24 times in the areas of high disease prevalence. The most severe disease course was observed in patients over 61 years old with erythema migrans-free disease. A single oral dose of doxycycline should be used for disease prevention in all patients seeking medical aid because of the tick bite. Conclusion. The offered preventive algorithm for Lyme disease allowed to prevent the disease development in 99.7% of all cases, the economical efficacy of doxycycline prophylaxis counted on 1 borrelia-harboring tick bite was estimated as 20 400 rubles.

Download Full-text

Clinical and epidemiological features of lyme borreliosis

Eastern Ukrainian Medical Journal ◽

10.21272/eumj.2021;9(1):80-86 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 80-86

Author(s):

I.V. Lutai ◽

A.S. Ivanova ◽

T.A. Husieva

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Lyme Borreliosis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Multiple Choice Questions ◽

Tick Bites ◽

Working Population ◽

Anonymous Questionnaire ◽

Epidemiological Features ◽

Number Of Patients

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common transmissible disease of tick-borne origin. This disease is a significant medical challenge due to the damage to many organs and systems and the tendency to chronicity and long-term disability in the future. Currently, there is an upward trend in the incidence of Lyme disease in Sumy Oblast. Thus, in Ukraine in 2015 the incidence was 7.96 per 100,000 population, and in 2019 it increased to 10.62. The average level of indicators was exceeded in Kyiv Oblast (29.0), Cherkasy Oblast (25.4), Vinnytsia Oblast (23.09), Sumy (25.89) Oblast, and Kyiv (2.54). The peak of tick activity in Ukraine is registered in May and has increased by 4.23 times. The maximum number of patients falls within the working population and causes significant state financial damage. The increase in the number of cases indicates a spread of Lyme disease in Sumy Oblast. In order to prevent the spread, it is necessary to study all possible causes of this disease and find ways to eliminate them. This was the ground for the creation of a unified anonymous questionnaire, which covers the main issues regarding this disease from the standpoint of different population groups. A unified anonymous "Questionnaire for Lyme disease patients" contains 16 multiple choice questions and an option for comments. The first group of questions concerned gender, age, and social data of respondents (the largest part of patients fell within the working population – 42.86%). The next group of questions clarified the epidemiological features of this pathology (circumstances, date, time, location, body part bitten). Most often tick bites occurred during walks in the urban forests (42.86% of cases). Most respondents reported that tick bites had happened in June and July (39.29%). Other questions were designed to determine patients' awareness about Lyme borreliosis prevention. The next group of questions was aimed at clarifying the clinical features of the disease (lower extremities were the most frequent site of a tick bite) (46.43%), with erythema dominating among the clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis (91.07%). According to the anonymous questionnaire, we analyzed and evaluated awareness of diagnosis, clinical signs, and measures of Lyme disease prevention in the patients who were receiving treatment at Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise of Sumy Regional Council "Medical Clinical Center of Infectious Diseases and Dermatology Named After Z. Krasovytskyi" and SSU University Clinic.

Download Full-text

Epidemiology of Lyme Disease in a Highly Endemic European Zone

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56030115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Agnė Petrulionienė ◽

Daiva Radzišauskienė ◽

Arvydas Ambrozaitis ◽

Saulius Čaplinskas ◽

Algimantas Paulauskas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Lyme Borreliosis ◽

Erythema Migrans ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Urban Residents ◽

Tick Bites ◽

Wide Range ◽

Baseline Characteristics

Background and objective: Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis (LB), is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia. The risk of infection depends on the geographical area, ecological factors, and human behavior. Clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis have a wide range, but the most frequent clinical symptom, which is also a diagnostic symptom, is a skin rash called erythema migrans (EM). The disease is very common worldwide. In Lithuania, the disease frequency is 99.9 cases per 100,000 population (Centre for Communicable Diseases and AIDS, Lithuania, 2017). The main aim of this study was to obtain the baseline characteristics of the disease regarding the infected Lithuanian population. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from the Centre for Communicable Diseases and AIDS about all Lyme disease (A69.2) diagnosed patients over a three-year period (from 2014 to 2016) in Lithuania. Results: In 2014–2016, 7424 (crude incidence rate 85.4) cases with LB were diagnosed in Lithuania. Most of them (4633 (62.4%)) were identified in women. Older people were more likely to suffer from LB. Urban residents were 2.6 times more often affected that those living in villages. Tick bites were primarily observed in high season months, from May to September (90%), with the highest peak in July. There was a higher number of observed tick bites (p = 0.003) in the urban residents. Erythema migrans occurred in 75.6% LB cases, while other symptoms did not exceed a quarter of all LB cases. There were 7353 (99.6%) cases where LB was confirmed via clinical symptoms and/or laboratory tests. Also, 1720 (23.2%) patients were tested for LB immunoglobulins. Conclusions: This study found a high incidence of Lyme disease in Lithuania. We elucidated the baseline characteristics regarding the infected Lithuanian population which may ease medical clinicians’ work on new Lyme diagnoses.

Download Full-text

Clinical case of borreliosis myocarditis

Reports of Vinnytsia National Medical University ◽

10.31393/reports-vnmedical-2020-24(2)-06 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 232-235

Author(s):

Yu. Yu. Shushkovska ◽

O.I. Afanasiuk ◽

R.V. Matyash

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Lyme Disease ◽

Left Ventricle ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Ventricular Arrhythmia ◽

Atrioventricular Block ◽

Clinical Case ◽

Functional Class ◽

Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽

Atrial Rhythm

Annotation. The purpose of the work is to demonstrate the peculiarities of its course, modern methods of diagnosis and treatment on the example of a clinical case of borreliosis myocarditis. According to the results of the patient's ECG, a transient atrio-ventricular block of the first degree was established. The results of general clinical methods of examination of the patient generally corresponded to the reference values. According to the results of Holter ECG monitoring, a diagnosis of mild myocarditis, heart failure I, functional class I, with preserved ejection fraction (50 %) of the left ventricle was made. Ventricular arrhythmia – 4th grade according to Laun. Competitive atrial rhythm, transient atrioventricular block. Because specific cardiovascular lesions occurred for no apparent reason and symptoms occurred during peak tick activity, the patient was re-interviewed for migratory erythema and tick bites. The patient confirmed being in the forest during the disease season and sucking the mite without specific skin lesions. To further search for the etiological factor that led to the identified changes, the patient was tested for antibodies to Burrelia burgdorferi by ELISA. The obtained positive result (Ig G – 3.89 IU/ml, Ig M – 33.74 IU/ml) indicated an acute period of Lyme disease. Thus, the final diagnosis was: Lyme disease, stage II (early disseminal). Subacute infectious (borreliosis) myocarditis, mild course, heart failure I, functional class I, with preserved ejection fraction (50 %) of the left ventricle. Ventricular arrhythmia – 4th grade according to Laun. Competitive atrial rhythm, transient atrioventricular block of the I degree. Treatment is prescribed: doxycycline 100 mg x 2 times/day, metoprolol 25 mg x 2 times/day, metabolic therapy and serological tests are recommended after 3, 6, 12 months and 2 years. Thus, the clinical case shows the difficulties of diagnosing “borreliosis myocarditis”, emphasizes the prospects for the development of algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of borreliosis myocarditis.

Download Full-text