title: Diagnosis not to be missed: Lyme carditis, rare but reversible cause of complete atrioventricular block.
abstract: Lyme carditis is a known cause of atrioventricular block and in most cases, atrioventricular block is reversible with appropriate antibiotic treatment. The diagnosis can be challenging if the disease is either not suspected, or if the initial cutaneous manifestation of erythema migrans is missed. It is important to diagnose Lyme carditis as the cause of complete heart block if unnecessary pacemaker implantation is to be avoided. We present a 43-year-old male who presented with complete heart block and also ill sustained ventricular tachycardia due to Lyme carditis that reversed completely with antibiotic therapy.
authors: Prof. Consultant Electrophysiologist, Institute of Cardiac Sciences, SAKRA World Hospital, 52/2 & 3, Deverabeesanahalli, Varthur Hobli, Bangalore - 560103, India. Electronic address: jshenthar@yahoo.com.
authors: Jayaprakash
authors: J
authors: Shenthar
authors: Consultant Cardiologists, SAKRA World Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors: Sreekanth Bhujanga
authors: SB
authors: Shetty
authors: Consultant Cardiologists, SAKRA World Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors: Deepak
authors: D
authors: Krishnamurthy
keywords: Complete heart block; Lyme carditis; Lyme disease
references: J Invasive Cardiol. 2003 Jun;15(6):367-9
references: 12777681
references: Ann Intern Med. 1980 Jul;93(1):8-16
references: 6967274
references: Ann Intern Med. 1989 Mar 1;110(5):339-45
references: 2644885
references: Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Oct;59(7):996-1000
references: 24879781
references: Ann Intern Med. 1996 May 1;124(9):785-91
references: 8610947
references: Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;22(2):275-88, vi
references: 18452801
references: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013 Dec 13;62(49):993-6
references: 24336130
references: Am Heart J. 1991 May;121(5):1558-60
references: 2017995