Lymphocytic meningoradiculitis in the United States

Lymphocytic meningoradiculitis (Bannwarth's syndrome) is a radicular neuralgia associated with a chronic lymphocytic pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid and frequently with unilateral or bilateral peripheral facial weakness. Most reported cases have occurred during the summer among adults living in central Europe. Lymphocytic meningoradiculitis has occurred in the United States in a few patients with Lyme disease and erythema chronicum migrans. However, it may occur independently. We describe a woman with no erythema chronicum migrans, in whom lymphocytic meningoradiculitis preceded a migratory oligoarthropathy by 5 months.