Cardiac Manifestations of Lyme Disease

Authors

Richard V. Shen, Division of Infectious Diseases, Southcoast Physicians Group, 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, USA. Electronic address: shenr@southcoast.org.
Carol A. McCarthy, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, 887 Congress Street, Suite 310, Portland, ME 04102, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2022

Journal Title

Infectious disease clinics of North America

MeSH Headings

Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use); Heart Block (complications); Humans; Lyme Disease (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy); Myocarditis (complications, therapy)

Abstract

Lyme carditis is an uncommon manifestation of Lyme disease. Most cases present with heart block of varying degrees, but the spectrum of disease includes other transient arrhythmias and structural manifestations, such as myopericarditis or cardiomyopathy. Antibiotics hasten the resolution of Lyme carditis, and cardiac pacing can be an adjunctive therapy. Outcomes are generally good, but there are rare fatalities associated with Lyme carditis. The latter underscores the continued need for improved modes of prevention of Lyme disease and the importance of its early recognition and treatment.

First Page

553

Last Page

561

Recommended Citation

Shen RV, McCarthy CA. Cardiac Manifestations of Lyme Disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022;36(3):553-561. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2022.03.001