Fatal infection with Borrelia burgdorferi by involvement of the cardiac conducting system

Job de Koning; Jacomina A. A. Hoogkamp-Korstanje; Hans G. Koster; Job D. Elema

doi:10.1007/BF02014944

International Journal of Angiology, Table of Contents

Int J Angiol 1994; 3(1): 203-206
DOI: 10.1007/BF02014944

Original Articles

Fatal infection with Borrelia burgdorferi by involvement of the cardiac conducting system

Job de Koning¹ , Jacomina A. A. Hoogkamp-Korstanje¹ , Hans G. Koster² , Job D. Elema³

¹Department of Pathology and Medical Microbiology of the Public Health Laboratory, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
²Department of Neurology of the Medical Centre, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
³Department of Pathology, University Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Presented at The 35th World Congress, International College of Angiology, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 1993

Abstract

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Abstract

The cardiac conducting system of a patient with fatal cardiac involvement by B. burgdorferi showed necrosis of associated muscle fibers in the sinoatrial node with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and focal edema. Lymphocytic infiltrate was also found around the atrioventricular node and in the penetrating bundle and branching bundle. Fibrosis in the left bundle branch apparently resulted in nearly complete discontinuation of the fibers. Peripheral neural and muscular tissue also showed signs of inflammation. Spirochetes were demonstrated in the branching bundle and between the muscular fibers of the right atrium. Peripheral neural and muscular tissue showed signs of disseminated Lyme borreliosis.

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