Lyme Disease -Induced Polyradiculopathy Mimicking ALS--Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Lyme Disease -Induced Polyradiculopathy Mimicking ALS -- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Author information:

Burakgazi, A.Z.

Assistant Professor, Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA.

Int J Neurosci. 2014 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

Abstract Importance: 

To describe a case of predominantly motor polyradiculopathy secondary to Lyme diseasethat can mimic motor neuron disease and has been rarely reported.

Observations: 

A 64 year-old man presented with a one-month history of rapidly progressive weakness involving bulbar, upper limb and lower limb muscles.

The physical examination showed widespread weakness, atrophy, fasciculation and brisk reflexes.

The initial electrodiagnostic test showed widespread active and chronic denervation findings.

The initial physical and electrodiagnostic findings were suggestive of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

However blood serology indicated possible Lyme disease.

Thus, the patient was treated with doxycycline. The clinical and electrodiagnostic findings were resolved with the treatment.

Conclusion and Relevance:

The diagnosis of Lyme disease can be very challenging and it can mimic other neurological disorders such as ALS or Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

Careful and detailed examination and investigation are required to confirm the diagnosis and to prevent misleading inaccurate diagnoses.

PMID: 24397499 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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