INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS IN 3 PATIENTS WITH DISSEMINATED LYME BORRELIOSIS - CAUSE OR CHANCE ASSOCIATION

Methods-Three patients with Borrelia burgdorferi infection and intracr anial aneurysms are described. Results-All three patients had neurolog ical symptoms. Perivascular and vasculitic lymphocytic inflammation we re detected in the brain biopsy specimen of one patient. The aneurysm was located in the internal carotid arteries in two patients and in th e basilar artery in one patient. The aneurysm ruptured in two patients . Conclusions-Cerebral lymphocytic vasculitis and intracranial aneurys ms may be associated with B burgdorferi infection. It is suggested tha t inflammatory changes caused by B burgdorferi in vessel walls may be a pathogenetic mechanism for the formation of aneurysms.