Fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient with Lyme disease

JAMA. 1988 May 13;259(18):2737-9.

Abstract

A dry cough, fever, generalized maculopapular rash, and myositis developed in a 67-year-old woman; she also had markedly abnormal liver function test results. Serologic tests proved that she had an infection of recent onset with Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent that causes Lyme disease. During a two-month course of illness, her condition remained refractory to treatment with antibiotics, salicylates, and steroids. Ultimately, fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome developed; this was believed to be secondary to Lyme disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Borrelia / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Lyme Disease / complications
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / drug therapy
  • Penicillin G / therapeutic use
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / pathology
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Tetracycline
  • Penicillin G