Large cerebral vessel occlusive disease in Lyme neuroborreliosis

We report on a 12-year-old, previously healthy girl with an acute hemiparesis as the predominant clinical manifestation of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). The diagnosis of LNB was based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies, laboratory findings and the clinical course whereas the patient's history and the lack of characteristic skin lesions obscured the diagnosis in the beginning. After four weeks of antibiotic and physiotherapeutic treatment, the hemiparetic symptoms had completely resolved. Although evidence of vasculitic and perivascular inflammation in LNB has been described in the literature, large cerebral vessel occlusive disease represents a rare finding. Appropriate treatment strategies can lead to good clinical rehabilitation, as shown in this case, making the timely diagnosis a crucial issue. We conclude that LNB should be considered in every stroke-like episode of unknown origin in children, even in the absence of a history of a tick bite or typical skin lesions.