Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis; a systematic literature review and a Scandinavian cohort study

Treatment of post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms-a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Residual symptoms after treatment of Lyme disease, sometimes called post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms (PTLDs), are a matter of ongoing controversy. To guide treatment recommendations, a systematic review was performed of the available literature on specific treatment for PTLDs.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of MEDLINE and CENTRAL was performed. No restrictions on case definitions, study types or specific interventions were applied to enable a comprehensive overview of the available literature. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tools for randomized controlled trials. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Outcomes of interest were quality of life, fatigue, depression and cognition as well as adverse events.

RESULTS

After screening 1274 records, eight eligible randomized controlled trials were included. Heterogeneity was observed regarding inclusion criteria, intervention, length of treatment and outcome measures. For efficacy outcomes, results are presented narratively due to heterogeneity. Eligible studies show no statistically significant difference between antibiotics and placebo regarding quality of life, cognition and depression. Results for fatigue were inconsistent whilst studies with low risk of bias showed no statistically significant difference between antibiotics and placebo. Meta-analysis of safety outcomes showed statistically significantly more adverse events for antibiotics compared to placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Available literature on treatment of PTLDs is heterogeneous, but overall shows evidence of no effect of antibiotics regarding quality of life, depression, cognition and fatigue whilst showing more adverse events. Patients with suspected PTLDs should not be treated with antibiotics.

Serum neurofilament light chain associates with symptom burden in Lyme neuroborreliosis patients: a longitudinal cohort study from Norway

OBJECTIVES

Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), an indicator of neuronal damage, is increasingly recognized as a potential biomarker for disease activity in neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we wanted to investigate sNfL as a prognostic marker in a large, well-defined population of 90 patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). In addition, we sought to explore associations between symptoms and sNfL levels during the acute phase of LNB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with definite or possible LNB were recruited from a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, in which the participants were randomly assigned to 2 or 6 weeks of oral doxycycline treatment. The sNfL levels were measured using a single molecule array assay at both diagnosis and 6-month follow-up, and analysed against clinical parameters, variations in symptom burden and long-term complaints as assessed by a composite clinical score.

RESULTS

At the time of diagnosis, approximately 60% of the patients had elevated sNfL levels adjusted for age. Notably, mean sNfL levels were significantly higher at diagnosis (52 pg/ml) compared to 6 months after treatment (12 pg/ml, p < 0.001), when sNfL levels had normalized in the majority of patients. Patients with objective signs of spinal radiculitis had significantly higher baseline sNfL levels compared to patients without spinal radiculitis (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that sNfL can serve as a biomarker for peripheral nerve tissue involvement in the acute phase of LNB. As found in an earlier study, we confirm normalization of sNfL levels in blood after treatment. We found no prognostic value of acute-phase sNfL levels on patient outcome.

Neuroborreliosis Presenting as Encephalitis: A Case Report

Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes can cause Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Neuroborreliosis presenting as encephalitis is a rare manifestation. We present a 72-year-old male patient hospitalized after three days of confusion and altered mental status. Initial computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were both unremarkable. Lumbar puncture showed an elevated number of white blood cells, elevated protein, and normal glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), normal electroencephalogram (EEG), and negative tests for common microorganisms in the CSF. The patient received treatment with acyclovir and ceftriaxone. Lumbar puncture repeated on day 16 showed a decreasing number of white blood cells. A repeated MRI showed white matter edema, interpreted as encephalitis, while a repeated EEG showed signs of a non-specific cerebral lesion. The first lumbar puncture revealed intrathecal immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against Borrelia and was positive for Borrelia DNA using real-time PCR, and the following lumbar puncture showed both IgM and IgG intrathecal antibody production. These results thus confirmed the diagnosis of Lyme Borrelia encephalitis. The patient improved clinically and was discharged after treatment with ceftriaxone for three weeks. Encephalitis due to LNB should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases with unexplained neurological symptoms. Changes in MRI and/or EEG might occur late in the course of the disease, underlining the need for repeated tests in unresolved cases.

Efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for Lyme neuroborreliosis: An updated systematic review

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based recommendations for treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) should rely on the available literature. As new data emerges, close review and evaluation of the recent literature is needed to build evidence-based recommendations to inform clinical practice and management of LNB. We performed an update of a previous systematic review on treatment of LNB.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of Medline and CENTRAL was performed for published studies from 2015 to 2023 to update a previous systematic review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies (NRS) were evaluated. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tools for RCTs; NRS were assessed using the ROBINS-I-tool. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Data were integrated into an existing meta-analysis of the available literature.

RESULTS

After screening 1530 records, two RCTs and five NRS with new and relevant data were additionally identified. Meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between doxycycline and beta-lactam antibiotics regarding residual neurological symptoms after 12 months. Meta-analysis showed no benefit of extended antibiotic treatment of LNB. Three NRS show no benefit for additional steroid use in LNB with facial palsy.

DISCUSSION

Additional incorporated recent research corroborates existing guideline recommendations for treatment of LNB. New RCTs add to the certainty of previous analysis showing similar efficacy for doxycycline and beta-lactam antibiotics in LNB. Available evidence shows no benefit for extended antibiotic treatment in LNB. NRS do not suggest a role for steroids in facial palsy due to LNB.

Clinical and epidemiological features of Lyme neuroborreliosis in adults and factors associated with polyradiculitis, facial palsy and encephalitis or myelitis

The clinical course of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is highly variable. Delayed diagnosis and treatment still remain actual challenges. Moreover, there is a lack of studies analyzing the factors associated with different LNB syndromes. We aimed to analyze clinical and epidemiological features of LNB in hospitalized adults in eastern Lithuania. A retrospective study was performed for patients presenting in the years 2010-2021. A total of 103 patients were included in the study, 100 with early, and three with late LNB. Patients with early LNB most often presented polyradiculitis [75/100, (75%)], which was also the most common initial neurological syndrome. Peripheral facial palsy was diagnosed in 53/100 (53%) patients, in 16/53 (30.2%) cases both facial nerves were affected. Encephalitis or myelitis was diagnosed in 14% of patients with LNB. A total of 76/103 (73.8%) patients were discharged with residual symptoms or signs. One patient presenting encephalomyelitis died because of bacterial complications. The absence of observed erythema migrans (EM) was the predictor of peripheral facial palsy, while female sex and EM untreated with antibiotics were predictors of isolated polyradiculitis. A fever of ≥ 38 ° °C and pleocytosis of ≥ 300 × 106/l were associated with the development of encephalitis or myelitis in patients with early LNB.

Enteroviral central nervous system infections in patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis

Patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) are rarely tested for the presence of neurovirulent viruses other than tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV); however, such coinfections could be of clinical importance. The aim of the study was to search for the presence of neurotropic viruses in a LNB patients. Fourteen patients admitted with signs and symptoms of neuroinfection who were eventually diagnosed to have LNB (according to the guidelines of the European Federation of Neurological Societies) were subjects of the study. Sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected at the time of initial presentation were tested for viral pathogens most common in our geographical area: human enteroviruses (EV), herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus type 6, human adenoviruses, and TBEV using PCR/RT-PCR and serological assays. RNA and DNA-based metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was used to detect other viral pathogens. EV was detected in CSF from two (14 %) LNB patients and viral loads were similar (220 and 270 copies/ml). The mMGS analysis were performed on CSFs from 10 patients and generated a total 213,750,885 NGS reads, 0.05 % of which were viral. However, none of potential pathogens fulfilled the criteria for positive viral detection by mNGS. Using a number of PCR/RT-PCR assays and mNGS we identified EV infection in two out of 14 LNB patients. The possible co-occurrence of enterovirus and Lyme neuroborreliosis infections may warrant further research.

State of the Art: Acute Encephalitis

Encephalitis is a devastating neurologic disease often complicated by prolonged neurologic deficits. Best practices for the management of adult patients include universal testing for a core group of etiologies, including herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, varicella zoster virus (VZV), enteroviruses, West Nile virus, and anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) antibody encephalitis. Empiric acyclovir therapy should be started at presentation and in selected cases continued until a second HSV-1 polymerase chain reaction test is negative. Acyclovir dose can be increased for VZV encephalitis. Supportive care is necessary for other viral etiologies. Patients in whom no cause for encephalitis is identified represent a particular challenge. Management includes repeat brain magnetic resonance imaging, imaging for occult malignancy, and empiric immunomodulatory treatment for autoimmune conditions. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) or brain biopsy should be considered. The rapid pace of discovery regarding autoimmune encephalitis and the development of advanced molecular tests such as NGS have improved diagnosis and outcomes. Research priorities include development of novel therapeutics.

Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis: A rare case

Encephalitis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a rare clinical manifestation of Lyme neuroborreliosis and only in few cases have brain parenchymal inflammation been documented. Here, we present a case of Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis with significant parenchymal inflammation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an immunosuppressed patient.

Lyme neuroborreliosis: known knowns, known unknowns

Lyme borreliosis affects the nervous system in three principal ways-mononuclear cell meningitis, cranial neuropathies and radiculoneuropathies-the last a broad term encompassing painful radiculopathy, unifocal and multifocal peripheral nerve involvement. Diagnostic tools have been significantly refined-including improved peripheral blood and CSF serodiagnostics-and much has been learned about the interactions between the causative pathogen and the nervous system. Despite these advances in our understanding of this disease, a broad range of other disorders continue to be misattributed to nervous system Lyme borreliosis, supported by, at best, limited evidence. These misattributions often reflect limited understanding not only of Lyme neuroborreliosis but also of what constitutes nervous system disease generally. Fortunately, a large body of evidence now exists to clarify many of these issues, establishing a clear basis for diagnosing nervous system involvement in this infection and, based on well performed studies, clarifying which clinical disorders are associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis, which with non-neurologic Lyme borreliosis, and which with neither.