Lyme carditis and atrioventricular block

Abstract

1 Lyme carditis may be an early manifestation of Lyme disease Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection (mainly Borrelia burgdorferi) with endemic regions predominantly along the Canada-United States border. In 2016, 987 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Canada. 1 The heart is involved in up to 10% of Lyme disease cases, with the development of cardiac tissue inflammation or Lyme carditis. 2 Nearly all patients with Lyme carditis (90%) will have atrioventricular block, 3 which commonly presents with breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness or syncope. 2