Cardiac lesions in patients with Lyme borreliosis

Abstract

Acute infectious diseases can potentially affect the cardiovascular system. Objective. To demonstrate the need for dynamic monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular disorders in patients with tickborne borreliosis. Patients and methods. This study included 142 patients with laboratory-confirmed tick-borne borreliosis. We analyzed clinical symptoms, results of laboratory testing, and electrocardiography (ECG) findings. Results. Almost one-fifth of all patients (18%) had complaints indicating cardiovascular lesions (both in the group under 60 years of age and in the group of elderly patients). Thirteen patients (9.2%) presented with hypotension. Grade 1–2 hypertension was observed in 11 hospitalized patients (7.7%). Clinical manifestations were accompanied by various ECG abnormalities. Conclusion. We found that 13.4% of patients with confirmed borreliosis had symptoms of probable myocarditis with signs of coronary artery lesions. The disorders detected were shortly eliminated by basic therapy or additional treatment (when needed) by the time of discharge from hospital. Key words: borreliosis, Lyme borreliosis, myocarditis, ECG, extrasystole, erythema