[Extensive Myelitis as a Manifestation of Neuroborreliosis]

Ana Brás1, Nuno Marques2, Beatriz Santiago1

  • 1Serviço de Neurologia. Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal.

Acta Medica Portuguesa
|January 7, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Neurological Lyme disease can cause rare but serious conditions like transverse myelitis. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of neuroborreliosis are crucial for a good outcome.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Case Reports

Background:

  • Neurological Lyme disease affects 3-12% of patients, commonly presenting as meningoradiculitis.
  • Central nervous system involvement, including myelitis and encephalitis, is rare (<5%).

Observation:

  • A 66-year-old male presented with subacute extensive transverse myelitis.
  • The myelitis was secondary to Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

Findings:

  • The patient received antibiotic therapy for neuroborreliosis.
  • A good clinical outcome was achieved following treatment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering neuroborreliosis in differential diagnoses for longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.
  • The treatable nature of this infectious cause underscores the need for timely diagnosis and intervention.

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