Abstract

A 66-year-old woman developed bilateral facial paralysis as well as sensory and motor disturbances of extremities. Two months after the onset of paralysis, she also developed sensory disturbance of her trunk and vesicorectal disturbance, and her symptoms worsened gradually. Because the interferon-γ level in the cerebrospinal fluid was elevated, we suspected that her symptoms were caused by polyneuropathy and myelitis associated with infection. Her serum IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia garinii and B. afzelli were positive. Therefore, we diagnosed her as having neuroborreliosis. Her symptoms gradually improved after the combined administration of antibiotics and steroids. The present case report showed that it might be better to consider the possibility of neuroborreliosis when there are increasing concentrations of cytokine and chemokine, and that combination treatment with antibiotics and steroids can be used for the treatment of this disease.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors

Takado Y, Shimohata T, Kawachi I, Tanaka K, Nishizawa M

Institution

Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University.

Source

Rinshō shinkeigaku = Clinical neurology 52:6 2012 pg 411-5

MeSH

Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biological Markers
Borrelia burgdorferi Group
Ceftriaxone
Doxycycline
Drug Therapy, Combination
Facial Paralysis
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Interferon-gamma
Lyme Neuroborreliosis
Prednisolone
Pulse Therapy, Drug
Sensation Disorders
Treatment Outcome

Pub Type(s)

Case Reports
English Abstract
Journal Article

Language

jpn

PubMed ID

22790802