Fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient with Lyme disease.
A dry cough, fever, generalized maculopapular rash, and myositis developed in a 67-year-old woman; she also had markedly abnormal liver function test results. Serologic tests proved that she had an infection of recent onset with Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent that causes Lyme disease. During a two-month course of illness, her condition remained refractory to treatment with antibiotics, salicylates, and steroids. Ultimately, fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome developed; this was believed to be secondary to Lyme disease.
Kirsch
M
M
Department of Medicine, Montefiore Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213.
Ruben
F L
FL
Steere
A C
AC
Duray
P H
PH
Norden
C W
CW
Winkelstein
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001898:Borrelia / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013752:Tetracycline; D010400:Penicillin G