Skip to main content
Log in

Lyme disease presenting as a stroke in the vertebrobasilar territory: MRI

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
  • Published:
Neuroradiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A 28-year-old female farmer, without vascular risk factors, developed a limited infarct of the pons, associated with a lymphocytic cerebrospial fluid (CSF) pleocytosis. Titres of specific antibodies againstBorrelia burgdorferi were high in serum and CSF. MRI confirmed an infarct in the territory of the medial pontine arteries, but angiography showed no, evidence of cerebral angiopathy. Antibiotic therapy rapidly led to a return to normal of CSF cytology and serology. We suggest that Lyme disease is a possible cause of cerebral ischaemia.

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. Uldry PA, Bogousslavsky J, Regli F, Kuntzer T (1991) Neuroborréliose et maladie de Lyme. In: Encycl Méd Chir 17051. Neurologie, Editions Techniques, Paris, p 6

  2. Rafto SE, Milton WJ, Galetta SL, Grossman RI (1990) Biopsyconfirmed CNS Lyme disease: MR appearance at 1.5 T. AJNR 11:482–484

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fernández RE, Rothberg M, Ferencz G, Wujack D (1990) Lyme disease of the CNS: MR imaging findings in 14 cases. AJNR 11: 479–481

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Anderson JF, Doby JM, Couatarmanac'h A, Hyde FW, Johnson RC (1986) Différence antigéniques entre des souches deBorrelia burgdorferi isolées deIxodes ricinus en Bretagne. Méd Mal Infect 16:171–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wilske B, Schierz G, Preac-Mursic V, Von Busch R, Kuhbeck R, Pfister HW, Einhpaul K (1986) Intrathecal production of specific antibodies againstBorrelia burgdorferi in patients with lymphocytic meningoradiculitis (Bannworth's syndrome). J Infect Dis 153:304–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stiernstedt GT, Granstrom M, Hederstedt B, Skoldenberg B (1985) Diagnosis of spirochetal meningitis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. J Clin Microbiol 21:819–825

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Pfister HW, Preac-Mursic V, Wilske B, Einhaupl KM (1989) Cefotaxime vs penicillin G for acute neurologic manifestations in Lyme borreliosis. Arch Neurol 46:1190–1194

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Veenendal-Hilbers, Perquin WVM, Hoogland PH, Doornbos L (1988) Basal meningo-vasculitis and occlusion of the basilar artery in two cases ofBorrelia burgdorferi infection. Neurology 38: 1317–1319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kohler J, Kern U, Kasper J, Rheese-Kupper B, Thoten U (1988) Chronic central nervous system involvement in Lyme borreliosis. Neurology 38:863–867

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Uldry PA, Regli F, Bogousslavsky J (1987) Cerebral angiopathy and recurrent strokes followingBorrelia burgdorferi infection. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 50:1703–1704

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Wokke JHJ, Van Gijn J, Elderson A, Stanek G (1987) Chronic forms ofBorrelia burgdorferi infection of the nervous system. Neurology 37:1031–1034

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Midgard R, Hofstad H (1987) Unusual manifestations of nervous systemBorrelia burgdorferi infection. Arch Neurol 4: 781–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kuntzer T, Bogousslavsky J, Miklossy J, Steck AJ, Janzer R, Regli F (1991) Borrelia rhombencephalomyelopathy. Arch Neurol 48:832–836

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. May EF, Jabbari B (1990) Stroke in neuroborreliosis. Stroke 21: 1232–1235

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Finkel MF (1988) Lyme disease and its neurologic complications. Arch Neurol 45:99–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Logigian EL, Kaplan RF, Steere AC (1990) Chronic neurologic manifestations of Lyme disease. N Engl J Med 323:1438–1444

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Halperin JJ, Luft BJ, Anand AK, Roque CT, Alvarez O, Volkman DJ, Dattwyler RJ (1989) Lyme neuroborreliosis: central nervous system manifestations. Neurology 39:753–759

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Defer, G., Levy, R., Brugiéres, P. et al. Lyme disease presenting as a stroke in the vertebrobasilar territory: MRI. Neuroradiology 35, 529–531 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588714

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588714

Key words

Navigation