179: Lyme Borreliosis Flashcards
(122 cards)
What is the primary causative agent of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a tickborne spirochete.
T or F: B. garinii causes meningitis and rediculopathy more frequently than B. burgdorferi.
True.
What is the typical onset time for Erythema Migrans after a tick bite?
Erythema Migrans typically begins 3 to 30 days (average: 7 days) after the completion of tick feeding.
What percentage of infected individuals present with Erythema Migrans?
Erythema Migrans is present in 70% to 80% of infected individuals, and as high as 90% in patients diagnosed with Lyme disease.
What are the histopathological findings associated with Erythema Migrans?
Histopathology of Erythema Migrans shows a superficial and deep perivascular infiltrate of eosinophils at the center of the lesion, with plasma cells, lymphocytes, and histiocytes peripherally.
What are the characteristics of the classic EM rash?
The classic EM rash is typically large (>5 cm), expanding, erythematous, round or oval, with the longer axis along the lines of least skin tension (Langer lines) central clearing and a darker punctate center at the site of the tick bite (Bull’s-eye rash).
T or F: Central clearing may be more common in B. garinii infections compared to B. burgdorferi infections, indicating a potential difference in clinical presentation between the species.
True.
What are the common symptoms reported by patients with Erythema Migrans?
30% to 50% of patients report mild tingling, itching, or burning, and 50% report systemic manifestations that may appear before, during, or after the classic lesion.
What is the typical duration for a solitary EM rash to develop?
A solitary EM rash typically requires a minimum of 36 hours at the site of the tick bite to develop.
What is the relationship between Erythema Migrans and the dissemination of bacteria?
3 days after the presence of the EM lesion, bacteria can disseminate from the inoculation site, leading to multiple EM rashes scattered over the body.
A patient develops multiple erythema migrans (EM) lesions scattered over their body. What does this indicate about the stage of Lyme disease?
Multiple EM lesions indicate hematogenous dissemination of the spirochete, representing early disseminated Lyme disease.
What is the pathophysiological mechanism behind the ‘bull’s-eye’ appearance of erythema migrans (EM)?
The ‘bull’s-eye’ appearance is due to the host inflammatory response to the nascent Borrelia infection.
What is the most common dermatologic manifestation of hematogenous dissemination in Lyme disease?
The most common dermatologic manifestation is multiple erythema migrans (EM) lesions.
What is the primary vector for Borrelia burgdorferi in North America, and what stage is most responsible for human transmission?
The primary vector is the Ixodes scapularis tick, and the nymphal stage is most responsible for human transmission.
What is the significance of the ‘bull’s-eye’ rash in Lyme disease diagnosis?
The ‘bull’s-eye’ rash, or erythema migrans (EM), is the most distinctive clinical manifestation of Lyme disease and often allows for a clinical diagnosis without laboratory testing.
What is Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA) and its demographic characteristics?
Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA) is observed mainly in elderly patients in Europe, with a predilection for females. Rare cases are reported in children, and most patients do not recall the specific tick bite that initiated the disease.
What are the clinical phases of Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA)?
ACA has two clinical phases:
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Inflammatory Phase:
- Early clinical stages present as a bluish-red discoloration on the extensor aspects of fingers, hands, joints, and lower extremities.
- Involves joints such as elbows and knees, with infiltrated purple bands adjacent to involved joints.
- Associated findings include cushion-like swelling of the dorsum of hands and feet.
- Lesions extend from distal to proximal portions of the extremity, with erythema and swelling varying in intensity (waxes and wanes).
- Swelling of the posterior aspect of lower extremities is indicative of Lyme disease.
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Atrophic Phase:
- Characterized by a ‘cigarette paper-like’ appearance and prominence of superficial veins.
- Chronic joint and bone involvement attributed to persistence of spirochetes in cutaneous lesions
What are the neurological and joint manifestations associated with Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA)?
Neurological and joint manifestations associated with ACA include:
- CNS and peripheral nervous system involvement in 45% of patients with ACA.
- 30-45% of patients experience polyneuropathy, most pronounced in the limb with cutaneous involvement.
- Chronic joint and bone involvement is attributed to the persistence of spirochetes in cutaneous lesions, often seen in longstanding ACA or untreated EM or ACA.
What histopathological features are observed in Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA)?
Histopathological features of ACA vary with the clinical phase:
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Inflammatory lesions consist of three layers:
- An atrophic epidermis
- A zone of uninvolved papillary dermis
- A layer of inflammatory cells composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells.
- Plasma cells in the infiltrate are mainly documented from studies in Europe.
- Infiltrate may extend deep into the subcutis, with occasional reports of interface dermatitis.
- Unusual findings include vacuoles at different levels of the dermis, which may indicate lymphedema.
A patient presents with a bluish-red discoloration on the extensor aspect of their fingers and hands. What is the likely diagnosis, and what phase of the disease does this represent?
The likely diagnosis is Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA), and this represents the inflammatory phase.
What is the histopathological hallmark of Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans (ACA) in its inflammatory phase?
The hallmark is a three-layered inflammatory lesion with an atrophic epidermis, uninvolved papillary dermis, and a layer of inflammatory cells composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells.
What is the significance of the ‘cigarette paper-like’ appearance in the atrophic phase of ACA?
The ‘cigarette paper-like’ appearance is characteristic of the atrophic phase of ACA, indicating chronic skin changes.
What is the significance of the ‘waxing and waning’ swelling in the inflammatory phase of ACA?
The ‘waxing and waning’ swelling is indicative of the inflammatory phase of ACA and may help differentiate it from other conditions.
What is the clinical significance of the ‘doughy’ swelling in ACA?
The ‘doughy’ swelling is a characteristic finding in the inflammatory phase of ACA and is often seen on the dorsum of the hands and feet.