UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: Lyme Carditis

Keywords: Lyme disease, Lyme carditis, AV block (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/2/2012 by Semhar Tewelde, MD
Click here to contact Semhar Tewelde, MD

Lyme disease is the most prevalent arthropod zoonosis in the Northern hemisphere

Lyme carditis (LC), first reported in 1980, occurs in 1.5–10% of untreated adults in USA
 
Symptoms develop on average within a month after the onset of erythema migrans
 
Symptoms range from asymptomatic to dyspnea, syncope, chest pain, and fluctuating degrees of atrioventricular block
 
Temporary pacing is usually necessary in approximately 30% 
 
Prognosis is favorable and complete recovery occurs in more than 90% 
 
Tx typically consists of three weeks of oral or parenteral antibiotics after continuous cardiac monitoring in any symptomatic patients 

References

Rostoff P, Gajos G, Konduracka E, Gackowski A, Nessler J, Piwowarsk W. Lyme carditis: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical features in endemic areas.  International Journal Cardiology