Abstract
Lyme endocarditis is extremely rare manifestation of Lyme disease. The clinical manifestations of Lyme endocarditis are non-specific and can be very challenging diagnosis to make when it is the only manifestation of the disease. Until now, only a few cases where reported. Physicians should keep in mind the possibility of borrelial etiology of endocarditis in endemic areas. Appropriate valve tissue sample should be sent for histopathology, culture, and PCR especially in case of endocarditis of unknown origin PCR on heart valve samples is recommended. With more frequent PCR, Borrelia spp. may be increasingly found as a cause of infective endocarditis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of Lyme carditis may prevent surgical treatment and pacemaker implantations. Due to climate change and global warming Lyme disease is a growing problem. Rising number of Lyme disease cases we can expect and rising number of Lyme endocarditis.
Highlights
Almost 45 years after its first recognition, Lyme disease (LD) has recently become a huge and growing problem, both in Europe and the United States (Lindgren and Jaenson, 2006)
The clinical manifestations of Lyme endocarditis are non-specific and can be very challenging diagnosis to make when it is the only manifestation of the disease
– Lyme endocarditis is a rare manifestation of Lyme disease – Manifestations of Lyme endocarditis are non-specific, and diagnosis can be challenging – In case of endocarditis of unknown origin, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of heart valve samples is recommended – If routine analyses do not reveal a pathogen agent, the physician should think about Lyme endocarditis – When a cardiac surgeon, during surgery, suspects infective endocarditis, a tissue sample should be taken for histopathology, culture, and PCR – Prompt diagnosis and treatment of Lyme carditis may avoid surgical treatment and pacemaker implantation – Due to climate change, we can expect more cases of Lyme carditis with involvement of heart valve
Summary
– Lyme endocarditis is a rare manifestation of Lyme disease – Manifestations of Lyme endocarditis are non-specific, and diagnosis can be challenging – In case of endocarditis of unknown origin, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of heart valve samples is recommended – If routine analyses do not reveal a pathogen agent, the physician should think about Lyme endocarditis – When a cardiac surgeon, during surgery, suspects infective endocarditis, a tissue sample should be taken for histopathology, culture, and PCR – Prompt diagnosis and treatment of Lyme carditis may avoid surgical treatment and pacemaker implantation – Due to climate change, we can expect more cases of Lyme carditis with involvement of heart valve
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