Case: A Rare Cardiac Complication Involving Lyme and Anaplasmosis
While these complications are well recognized, they do not always present in typical ways.
The following case illustrates how Lyme disease complications can involve the heart and become life-threatening—especially when coinfections are present.
Over the last several years, there has been a three-fold increase in anaplasmosis cases in the United States. This tick-borne illness is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick and typically causes flu-like symptoms. Cardiac complications are rare but can occur.
The article “Tick-Borne Myopericarditis with Positive Anaplasma, Lyme, and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) Serology: A Case Report,” describes a 61-year-old man from New Jersey who presented with fever, chills, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.1 He also reported lightheadedness and shortness of breath.
His medical history included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease. Further history revealed a recent tick exposure.
He was treated with doxycycline and later confirmed to have acute Lyme disease and anaplasma infection, along with positive Epstein-Barr virus serology.
Electrocardiography showed tachycardia with mild ST elevations, and laboratory testing revealed elevated troponin levels. His condition progressed to septic shock requiring vasopressor support.
This case highlights an uncommon but serious cardiac complication associated with tick-borne infections and overlapping diagnoses.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
