NEUROBORRELIOSIS AS A CAUSE OF RESPIRATORY-FAILURE

We report three cases of neuroborreliosis presenting with acute respir atory impairment. All the patients had encephalopathy and focal neurol ogical signs with brain stem abnormalities in two. All three patients had respiratory arrest associated with progressive nocturnal hypoventi lation or prolonged central apnoea. Tracheostomy and prolonged periods of ventilatory support were necessary in all cases and weaning was co mplicated by residual central respiratory disturbances. These cases em phasise that Borrelia infection should diagnosis of unexplained respir atory failure.