Lyme Carditis: An Interesting Trip to Third-Degree Heart Block and Back
Maxwell Eyram Afari1, Fady Marmoush1, Mobeen Ur Rehman1
1Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Pawtucket, RI, USA.
Insights
Lyme disease can cause carditis, leading to heart block. Prompt treatment with ceftriaxone resolved heart block in a young female, highlighting the need for early recognition of cardiac issues in Lyme disease patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Tick-borne Illnesses
Background:
- Carditis is a rare manifestation of early disseminated Lyme disease.
- Cardiac conduction abnormalities can rapidly progress in Lyme disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of Lyme carditis presenting with progressive heart block.
- To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and management of cardiac complications in Lyme disease.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a young female with erythema migrans and Lyme disease.
- Monitoring of cardiac conduction and treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone.
Main Results:
- The patient developed first-degree heart block, progressing to complete heart block within hours.
- Complete resolution of heart block was observed following ceftriaxone administration.
Conclusions:
- Lyme carditis can present with rapidly progressing atrioventricular block.
- Early recognition and treatment are crucial for managing cardiac conduction abnormalities in Lyme disease.
Abstract:
Carditis is an uncommon presentation of the early disseminated phase of Lyme disease. We present the case of a young female who presented with erythema migrans and was found to have first-degree heart block which progressed to complete heart block within hours. After receiving ceftriaxone, there was complete resolution of the heart block in sequential fashion. Our case illustrates the importance of early recognition and anticipation of progressive cardiac conduction abnormalities in patients presenting with Lyme disease.
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