Skip to main content
Log in

Isolated neuritis of the sciatic nerve in a case of Lyme disease

  • Case Report
  • Published:
The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferi. The course of the disease is divided into three stages, the second of which may include various types of peripheral nervous system disturbances. We report the case of a patient with persistent deficits caused by the prevalent involvement of the sciatic nerve, confirmed by electrophysiological and neuropathological findings. The most significant bioptic results were axonal degeneration and perivascular inflammation. Damage to a single peripheral nerve as the dominant clinical expression during the course of Lyme disease is an unusual finding that has been rarely described in the literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dupuis MJM (1988) Les multiples manifestations neurologiques des infections aBorrelia burgdorferi. Rev Neurol 144:765–775

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Monteyne P, Dupuis MJM, Sindic CJM (1994) Névrite du grand dentelé associée à une infection parBorrelia burgdorferi. Rev Neurol 150:75–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Pachner AR, Steere AC (1985) The triad of neurologic manifestations of Lyme disease: Meningitis, cranial neuritis, and radiculo-neuritis. Neurology 35:47–53

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bannwarth A (1941) Chronische lymphocytäre Meningitis entzündliche Polyneuritis und “Rheumatismus”. Ein beitrag zum Problem. Allergie und Nervensystem. Arch Psychiat Nervenkr 113:284–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Halperin J, Luft BJ, Volkman DJ, Dattwyler RJ (1998) Lyme neuroborreliosis: Peripheral nervous system manifestations. Brain 113:1207–1221

    Google Scholar 

  6. Wulff CH, Hansen K, Strange P, Trojaborg W (1983) Multiple mononeuritis and radiculitis with erythema, pain, elevated CSF protein and pleocytosis (Bannwarth’s syndrome). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 46:485–490

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hirsch E, Sellal F, Christmann D, Steinmetz G, Monteil H, Jesel M, Warter JM, Collard M (1987) Les méningo-radiculites après morsure de tique: étude de 31 cas. Rev Neurol (Paris) 143:182–188

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vallat JM, Hugon J, Lubeau M, Lebouet MJ, Dumas M, Desproges-Gotteron (1987) Tick-bite meningoradiculoneuritis: Clinical, electrophysiologic, and histologic findings in 10 cases. Neurology (Cleveland) 37:749–753

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kristoferitsch W, Sluga E, Graf M, Partsch H, Neumann R, Stanek G, Budka H (1988) Neuropathy associated with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans: Clinical and morphological features. Ann N Y Acad Sci 539:35–45

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Halperin J, Little BW, Coyle PK, Dattwyler RJ (1987) Lyme disease: Cause of a treatable peripheral neuropathy. Neurology 37:1700–1706

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Camponovo F, Meier C (1986) Neuropathy of vasculitic origin in a case of Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome with positive borrelia antibody response. J Neurol 233:69–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sterman AB, Neslon S, Barclay P (1982) Demyelinating neuropathy accompanying Lyme disease. Neurology 32:1302–1305

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Halperin J, Volkman DJ, Luft BJ, Dattwyler RJ (1989) Carpal tunnel syndrome in Lyme borreliosis. Muscle Nerve 12:397–400

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Melet M, Gerard A, Voiriot P, Gayet S, May T, Hermann J, Dournon E, Dureux J, Canton PH (1986) Méningoradiculonevrite mortelle an cours d’une maladie de Lyme. Presse Méd 15:2075

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Midgard R, Hofstad H (1987) Unusual manifestations of nervous systemBorrelia burgdorferi infection. Arch Neurol 44:781–783

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Baumhackl U, Kristoferitsch W, Sluga E, Stanek G (1986) Neurological manifestations ofBorrelia burgdorferi infections: The enlarging clinical spectrum. Zbl Bakt Hyg 263:334–336

    Google Scholar 

  17. Halperin J, Logigian EL, Finkel MF, Pearl RA (1996) Practice parameters for the diagnosis of patients with nervous system Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease). Neurology 46:619–627

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Garcia-Monco JC, Gomez Beldarrain M, Estrade L (1993) Painful lumbosacral plexitis with increased ESR and Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Neurology 43:1269

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Meier C, Grahmann F, Engelhart A, Dumas M (1989) Peripheral nerve disorders in Lyme-Borreliosis. Nerve biopsy studies from eight cases. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 79:271–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tezzon F, Corradini C, Huber R, Egarter Vigl E, Simeoni J, Stanek G, Ferrari G (1991) Vasculitic mononeuritis multiplex in patient with Lyme disease. Ital J Neurol Sci 12:229–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Maimone D, Villanova M, Stanta G, Bonin S, Malandrini A, Guazzi GC, Annunziata P (1997) Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA and complement membrane attack com plex deposits in the sural nerve of a patient with chronic polyneuropathy and tertiary Lyme disease. Muscle Nerve 20(8):969–975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Avanzi, S., Messa, G., Marbini, A. et al. Isolated neuritis of the sciatic nerve in a case of Lyme disease. Ital J Neuro Sci 19, 81–85 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02427561

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02427561

Key words

Navigation