Oral treatment of parenchymal central nervous system neuroborreliosis - are we there yet?

Medically Refractory Neuroborreliosis Case Presented with Coexistance Involvements of Cranial 7 and 8 Nerves

In the US, Lyme disease (LD) has become the most common vector-borne disease. Less than 10% of patients develop cranial nerve palsy or meningitis. There are few reports on cases of Lyme disease with more than one cranial neuropathy. Herein, we will discuss a case of persistent neurological deficits as a result of chronic Lyme disease resistant to standard therapy. Our case is unique due to involvements of cranial seven and eight nerves at the same time. Our case illustrates an extreme example of treatment resistance. However, early diagnosis and prompt establishment of adequate antibiotic treatment are still important to prevent progression to further stages of disease.

Nervous system lyme disease

Lyme disease, a multisystem spirochetal infection, continues to be the subject of considerable debate, but not controversy. Recent years have seen improvements in diagnostic tools, better understanding of pathophysiology, and increasing evidence of efficacy of standard treatment regimens. Nervous system involvement is particularly confusing to patients and many physicians. A rational approach based on objective findings can clarify the cause and dictate the best treatment of patients' difficulties. Diagnosis for all but the earliest cases rests on the combination of likely contact with infected Ixodes ticks and laboratory confirmation of exposure to the causative organism, Borrelia burgdorferi (two-tier serology, combining ELISA with a confirmatory Western blot). Treatment is generally with oral antimicrobials such as doxycycline. Parenteral regimens are usually necessary only for the most severe cases.