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Published on: February 4, 2018
Disseminated Lyme disease and dilated cardiomyopathy: A systematic review
Mehras Motamed1, Kiera Liblik1, Andres F Miranda-Arboleda2
1Department of Medicine, Kingston Health Science Centre, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital K7L 2V7, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Insights
Late disseminated Lyme disease may be linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but more research is needed. This review found some evidence of Borrelia infection association with DCM.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Lyme carditis is a known complication of early Lyme disease.
- The link between late disseminated Lyme disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is not well understood.
Approach:
- A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and MEDLINE.
- Eleven observational studies with a total of 771 participants were included.
Key Points:
- Most studies (7/11) found an association between Borrelia infection and DCM.
- Evidence suggests a potential link between late Lyme disease and heart muscle issues.
Conclusions:
- Further research is necessary to confirm Borrelia infection as a direct cause of DCM.
- Understanding this association is crucial for diagnosing and treating Lyme disease complications.
Abstract:
Lyme carditis is a well-established manifestation of early disseminated Lyme infection, yet the relationship between late disseminated Lyme disease and the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unclear. The present systematic review aims to summarize existing literature on the association between late disseminated Lyme disease and DCM. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and MEDLINE databases, after which a total of 11 observational studies (n = 771) were ultimately included for final data extraction. Although most studies (7/11) identified evidence associating Borrelia-infection with DCM, further research is required to isolate late disseminated Borrelia infection as a causative agent of DCM.
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