Neuroborreliosis in an immunosuppressed patient
Neuroborreliosis en un paciente inmunosuprimido
Alodia Rodríguez-Nájera, María Viguera-Elías, Javier Albero-Ortín, Sara Lacalle-Navaridas, Claudia González-Arregui
Abstract
Neuroborreliosis is a rare but significant manifestation of Lyme disease, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals. We present the case of a 43-year-old patient with a history of follicular lymphoma in remission, currently undergoing maintenance therapy with Rituximab, who presented with progressive neurological symptoms including peripheral facial paralysis, headache, tremors, and lower back pain. Initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed lymphocytic pleocytosis, but serological and PCR tests for Borrelia burgdorferi were negative. Given the epidemiological context and clinical presentation, a probable diagnosis of neuroborreliosis was made, with the seronegative results attributed to immunosuppression. The patient responded well to intravenous ceftriaxone with significant clinical improvement. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of neuroborreliosis in immunosuppressed patients and emphasizes the importance of clinical judgment in the absence of confirmatory laboratory findings.
Keywords
Resumen
La neuroborreliosis es una manifestación rara pero significativa de la enfermedad de Lyme, particularmente en individuos inmunodeprimidos. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 43 años con antecedentes de linfoma folicular en remisión, actualmente en terapia de mantenimiento con Rituximab, quien presentó síntomas neurológicos progresivos que incluían parálisis facial periférica, cefalea, temblores y dolor lumbar. El análisis inicial del líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) mostró pleocitosis linfocítica, pero las pruebas serológicas y de PCR para Borrelia burgdorferi fueron negativas. Dado el contexto epidemiológico y la presentación clínica, se realizó un diagnóstico probable de neuroborreliosis, atribuyéndose los resultados seronegativos a la inmunodepresión. El paciente respondió bien a la ceftriaxona intravenosa con una mejoría clínica significativa. Este caso resalta los desafíos diagnósticos de la neuroborreliosis en pacientes inmunodeprimidos y enfatiza la importancia del juicio clínico en ausencia de hallazgos de laboratorio confirmatorios.
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References
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Submitted date:
05/02/2025
Reviewed date:
09/02/2025
Accepted date:
09/22/2025
Publication date:
09/22/2025