Gestational and Congenital Lyme Disease
How rare are these conditions? According to published figures, 16,000-17,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year in the United States. Roughly 8000 cases are in women, and approximately 1200-3400 cases are in women of childbearing age (20-49 years old). If you assume that one quarter of the women in the child-bearing age group are pregnant (a gross overestimate), and that 10% are either untreated or inadequately treated, and that one fifth transmit the organism to the fetus or newborn, this calculates to approximately 40 cases of congenital Lyme disease a year in the United States. It would be unusual for any large city to have more than 1 or 2 cases a year, and it would be extremely rare for any physician to see more than a few cases in a lifetime.In 263 recent reported cases, 25% resulted in adverse outcomes: 8% resulted in fetal death and 2% in neonatal death. Fifteen percent of the babies were liveborn but were ill or had an abnormality. The effect of antibiotic therapy was dramatic in these patients: with antibiotics, 85% of neonates were normal, while 15% had an adverse outcome. In striking contrast, without antibiotics, only 33% were normal, while 67% had an adverse outcome. The conclusion: Proper, prompt diagnosis and antibiotic therapy are vital for healthy neonates born with congenital Lyme disease.
However, it can be quite difficult to recognize such a rare disease. The differential diagnosis is extensive and includes sepsis/meningoencephalitis (bacterial or viral), other congenital infectious diseases (eg, syphilis, leptospirosis, relapsing fever, toxoplasmosis), congenital heart or bone disease, inherited or infectious immunodeficiency, sudden infant death syndrome, and more. A history suggestive of Lyme disease in the mother or positive serologic or other tests for B burgdorferi can suggest the diagnosis. One interesting radiologic clue is "celery stalking" -- lucent metaphyseal bands -- on the long bones of the neonate. These are occasionally seen in infants with gestational syphilis or viral infections. In 2 neonates treated, the bands disappeared shortly after treatment.
The prognosis for gestational Lyme disease is good if diagnosed and treated adequately. The prognosis for neonates with early congenital Lyme disease depends on prompt diagnosis, especially in severe early cases. Similarly, the prognosis in late congenital Lyme depends not only on prompt diagnosis and treatment, but also on the extent of irreversible damage present at the time of diagnosis. Long-term follow-up is important for detecting possible recurrence of disease.
Full article here.
