Peripheral neuropathy in Lyme disease
By Linda on Oct 19, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20842825&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks
Excerpt:
Lyme borreliosis is a multisystem disease and when involves the
nervous system it is termed neuroborreliosis. The symptomatology
of peripheral neuroborreliosis is rich and varied. The early
symptoms are asymmetric polyradiculopathies and paralysis of the
cranial nerves (most commonly facial nerve). Thereafter, there
are multifocal mononeuropathies and
sensory-motorpolyneuropathies. Difficulties in making a correct
diagnosis can result from the long time lag between tick bite and
the occurrence of neurological symptoms. In the treatment the
most important role play antibiotics.
CASE REPORTS: We report the cases of three patients with symptoms
of damage to various structures of the peripheral nervous system
in the course of Borrelia burgdorferi infection. In all cases,
clinical improvement was obtained after treatment with
antibiotics, which further confirms the diagnosis of
neuroborreliosis.
CONCLUSIONS: About neuroborreliosis
as a cause of peripheral neuropathy we should always think in the
case of vague symptoms of peripheral nervous system lesions in
patients with potential exposure to tick bites. Peripheral
neuropathies may occur a long interval from the tick bite and are
not always preceded by other forms of the disease.
