Chronic neuroborreliosis by B. garinii: an unusual case presenting with epilepsy and multifocal brain MRI lesions

New Microbiol. 2014 Jul;37(3):393-7. Epub 2014 Jul 1.

Abstract

Late/chronic Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) represents a challenging entity whose diagnosis requires a combination of clinical and laboratory findings, surrounded by much controversy. Here we describe a patient who had a peculiar form of late LNB with CNS lesions shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and epileptic seizures, etiologically diagnosed by conventional and molecular methods. The current case provides evidence that patients presenting with epileptic seizures and MRI-detected multifocal lesions, particularly when a facial palsy has also occurred, should raise the suspicion of LNB, as this diagnosis has important implications for treatment and prognosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / genetics
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / isolation & purification*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Epilepsy / blood
  • Epilepsy / diagnostic imaging
  • Epilepsy / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / blood
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / microbiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial