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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
07:20
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
[Acute myelitis and Lyme disease]
F Blanc1, S Froelich, F Vuillemet
1Département de Neurologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg. Frederic.Blanc@chru-strasbourg.fr
Revue Neurologique
|November 23, 2007
Summary
Acute Lyme myelitis, a rare form of neuroborreliosis, presents diverse clinical and imaging features. Early Lyme serology in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is crucial for diagnosing acute myelitis, especially in endemic regions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Acute myelitis constitutes 4-5% of neuroborreliosis cases.
- Simultaneous spinal MRI and CSF investigations are rarely reported.
- This study details three cases of acute Lyme myelitis.
Observation:
- Patients presented with motor, sensory, and sphincter dysfunction.
- Extra-spinal symptoms included fever, headache, facial nerve palsy, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Spinal cord MRI showed extensive lesions (>3 vertebral segments).
Findings:
- CSF analysis revealed pleocytosis and positive Lyme serology in all patients.
- Intrathecal anti-Borrelia antibody index was positive or intermediate.
- Myelitis patterns varied: central, posterior, or transverse.
Implications:
- Lyme myelitis exhibits diverse clinical and radiological manifestations.
- CSF Lyme serology is essential for diagnosing acute myelitis in endemic areas.
- Prompt antibiotic treatment led to favorable clinical outcomes.
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