LYME CARDITIS - INDICATIONS FOR CARDIAC PACING

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the most common reported vector-borne illness in t he United States. The clinical course of Lyme disease is divided into early and late phases. Early disease may be limited or disseminated. G enerally, cardiac complications occur in the early disseminated phase. Disturbance of atrioventicular conduction is the most commonly recogn ized cardiac manifestation of Lyme disease. This is usually self-limit ed and does not require permanent cardiac pacing. A case of Lyme cardi tis with atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacing is reported and the indications for cardiac pacing in this disease are reviewed.