Lyme carditis

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;29(2):255-68. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.003.

Abstract

Lyme disease is a common disease that uncommonly affects the heart. Because of the rarity of this diagnosis and the frequent absence of other concurrent clinical manifestations of early Lyme disease, consideration of Lyme carditis demands a high level of suspicion when patients in endemic areas come to attention with cardiovascular symptoms and evidence of higher-order heart block. A majority of cases manifest as atrioventricular block. A minority of Lyme carditis cases are associated with myopericarditis. Like other manifestations of Lyme disease, carditis can readily be managed with antibiotic therapy and supportive care measures, such that affected patients almost always completely recover.

Keywords: AV block; Heart block; Lyme carditis; Lyme disease; Pericarditis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Atrioventricular Block / etiology*
  • Atrioventricular Block / therapy
  • Borrelia burgdorferi*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease* / drug therapy
  • Myocarditis / diagnosis
  • Myocarditis / microbiology*
  • Myocarditis / therapy
  • Pacemaker, Artificial

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents