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Updated: Aug 1, 2025
07:20
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
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Common Neurologic Features of Lyme Disease That May Present to a Rheumatologist
Swati Govil1, Eugenio Capitle1, Alexandra Lacqua2
1Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 28, 2023
Summary
Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, presents with diverse symptoms, frequently leading patients to rheumatologists for joint pain. Neurologic Lyme disease is common, requiring rheumatologist awareness and neurologist consultation.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Disease
- Neurology
Background:
- Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection, exhibits a wide range of clinical presentations and severity.
- Patients with suspected Lyme disease often consult rheumatologists, primarily for arthralgia.
- Neurologic manifestations are a common presentation of Lyme disease, second only to skin involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To inform rheumatologists about the increasing prevalence of neurologic Lyme disease.
- To highlight the importance of recognizing early signs of neurologic Lyme disease.
- To emphasize the need for collaboration with neurologists experienced in managing Lyme disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical presentations of Lyme disease.
- Analysis of patient referral patterns to rheumatologists.
- Discussion of diagnostic challenges and collaborative care strategies.
Main Results:
- Arthralgia is the most frequent rheumatologic complaint in Lyme disease patients.
- Neurologic symptoms are a significant and common manifestation of Lyme disease.
- Early identification of neurologic Lyme disease is crucial for timely intervention.
Conclusions:
- Rheumatologists play a key role in the initial evaluation of patients with suspected Lyme disease.
- Increased awareness of neurologic Lyme disease symptoms is essential for rheumatologists.
- Prompt referral to neurologists is critical for patients with suspected neurologic Lyme disease.
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