[Lyme neuro-borreliosis in a 66-year old women. Differential diagnosis of cerebral metastases and cerebral infarction].
A 66-year-old woman with medically treated hypertension and a recent operation for breast cancer was admitted because of burning pain localized between her shoulder blades and a paretic, dysaesthetic right arm. CSF examination revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis and specific IgM Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies. CT was normal. The patient was treated intravenously with high doses of penicillin for 14 days, and within one month of admission she had recovered completely neurologically. During the first days of treatment a drop in blood pressure, ECG changes, and further neurological changes were observed, but disappeared spontaneously within three days. The patient did not recall a tick bite, and the case illustrates that neuroborreliosis may be a differential diagnosis to stroke or cerebral neoplasms in elderly patients.
Henriksen
T B
TB
Odder Centralsygehus, medicinsk afdeling.
D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*