Serologic Status of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Patients with Cardiovascular Changes

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary heart disease (CHD) caused by atherosclerosis, have the highest worldwide incidence and mortality rate of any type of disease. Aside from risk factors associated with lifestyle and comorbidities, infectious agents such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes, which cause Lyme disease, may also play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease. A growing number of scientific papers have mentioned Lyme carditis. The aim of this study was to find the level of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies in the blood serum of patients with advanced coronary heart disease. Materials and methods: The study group included 70 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery aged 50 to 82 (average 68.26). The ELISA test was used to detect anti-Borrelia/IgG antibodies in the blood serum. Serological testing revealed seropositivity in 34.29% of patients and ‘borderline results’ in 17.14% of patients. We found a link between antibody levels and tick bites but not with other risk factors for the development of CHD. Conclusions: These findings support the idea that, as one of many factors, the contact with spirochetal antigens may indicate a potential positive correlation with the formation of cardiovascular changes. More research, not only at the diagnostic level but also at the advanced research level, is needed.

Application of diagnostic methods in the verification of Lyme carditis (clinical case)

“…Additionally, attention should be paid to the history of previous infections, as there is a hypothesis that various bacterial and viral agents are also responsible for endothelial changes in blood vessels, which can potentially worsen the course of myocarditis. For example, literature reports suggest that cytomegalovirus, hepatitis C virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic vascular lesions [26,27]. According to the patient, he does not have any harmful habits (does not smoke, consumes alcohol no more than once a week up to 30 g/day in terms of pure alcohol), and denies a history of infectious diseases.…”