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Cited by 45Vector-borne infectious diseasesSyphilis Diagnosis and TreatmentInfectious Encephalopathies and Encephalitis

Secondary dementia due to Lyme neuroborreliosis

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Kristoferitsch, Wolfgang, Aboulenein-Djamshidian, Fahmy, Jecel, Julia, Rauschka, Helmut, Rainer, Michael, Stanek, Gerold, Fischer, Peter·2018·Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
DOI 10.1007/s00508-018-1361-9PMC PMC6096534
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Abstract

Dementia-like syndromes are rare manifestations of Lyme neuroborreliosis. The clinical patterns are summarized using our own cases and case reports from the literature, which were diagnosed as definite Lyme neuroborreliosis according to the European guidelines. The cases disclose signs of subcortical dementia that occur more rapidly than in patients suffering from primary dementia. Gait disturbances early in the disease course is another frequently observed characteristic feature. The response to 2-4 weeks of antibiotic treatment with ceftriaxone was excellent. There were no indications for a prolonged antibiotic treatment. It is essential to be aware of this manifestation of Lyme neuroborreliosis, because early antibiotic treatment will prevent permanent sequelae that may occur throughout the further course of the untreated disease.

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  • The causes of neuroborreliosis are not fully understood, and it can also include meningitis, inflammation, dementia-like cognitive deficits, and encephalopathy.

    “The causes of neuroborreliosis are not fully understood, and it can also include meningitis, inflammation, dementia-like cognitive deficits, and encephalopathy [61,62].”

    From What would it take to prove that a chronic infection is a causal agent in Alzheimer’s disease? (2025) · cites this paper as [61]

    The Pathogenesis section says the mechanism of chronic encephalomyelitis in Lyme neuroborreliosis is not fully understood and describes focal inflammation and leptomeningitis. The Conclusion identifies dementia-like syndromes as a rare manifestation. But the claim broadens that uncertainty to the causes of neuroborreliosis generally, and the Discussion explicitly distinguishes this disorder from Lyme encephalopathy rather than listing encephalopathy as a manifestation. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Kristoferitsch, W., Aboulenein-Djamshidian, F., Jecel, J., Rauschka, H., Rainer, M., Stanek, G., & Fischer, P.
Affiliations
  • Donauspital (AT)
  • Medical University of Vienna (AT)
Corresponding author
Kristoferitsch, Wolfgang
ORCID
Venue
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-07-25
Volume
130
Issue
15-16
Pages
468-478
ISSN
  • 0043-5325 (ISSN-L)
  • 1613-7671
DOI
10.1007/s00508-018-1361-9
PMC
PMC6096534
OpenAlex
W2883598716
Cited by
45
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2
FWCI
4.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Wiener klinische Wochenschrift (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Medical University of Vienna
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infectious Encephalopathies and Encephalitis
Keywords
Lyme neuroborreliosis, secondary dementia, subcortical dementia, gait disturbance, ceftriaxone, antibiotic therapy, Borrelia burgdorferi, early treatment
MeSH terms
Aged, 80 and over, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Ceftriaxone, Dementia, Female, Humans, Lyme Disease, Lyme Neuroborreliosis, Cognitive Dysfunction

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