Intracranial aneurysms in three patients with disseminated Lyme borreliosis: cause or chance association?

Abstract

Three patients with Borrelia burgdorferi infection and intracranial aneurysms are described. All three patients had neurological symptoms. Perivascular and vasculitic lymphocytic inflammation were detected in the brain biopsy specimen of one patient. The aneurysm was located in the internal carotid arteries in two patients and in the basilar artery in one patient. The aneurysm ruptured in two patients. Cerebral lymphocytic vasculitis and intracranial aneurysms may be associated with B burgdorferi infection. It is suggested that inflammatory changes caused by B burgdorferi in vessel walls may be a pathogenetic mechanism for the formation of aneurysms.