The clinical spectrum of Lyme neuroborreliosis

Lyme disease is a multisystem infectious disease, endemic in parts of Europe, including the West of Ireland. Neurological manifestions (neuroborreliosis) are variable. Presenting neurological syndromes include meningitis, cranial neuropathies, myeloradiculitis and mononeuritis multiplex. A lack of specificity in serological diagnosis may add to diagnostic confusion. We reviewed thirty cases of acute Lyme disease in the West of Ireland and found neurological syndromes in 15 (50%), with painful radiculopathy (12 patients; 80%) and cranial neuropathy (7 patients; 46%) occurring frequently. Neuroborreliosis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of these neurological syndromes in the appropriate clinical context.