DEMYELINATING NEUROPATHIES IN BORRELIOSIS

Five patients (4 men, 1 woman, aged 51-67), were hospitalized for peri pheral painful neuropathies. The serological survey and the dramatic r esponses to penicillin confirmed the responsibility of Borrelia burgdo rferi in all 5 cases. Electromyographical studies showed evidence of d emyelination: prolonged distal latency, slowing down of nerve conducti on velocity. In 3 patients this pattern was related to axonal degenera tion as shown by fibrillation potentials and reduced voluntary motor u nit potentials recorded on needle examination. The other two showed no axonal degeneration. One also had motor conduction blocks. Such a dem yelination could be due to vasculitis of the vasa nervorum described i n tick-bone meningoradiculitis.