Urinary dysfunction in Lyme disease.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-1993
Abstract
Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is associated with a variety of neurological sequelae. We describe 7 patients with neuro-borreliosis who also had lower urinary tract dysfunction. Urodynamic evaluation revealed detrusor hyperreflexia in 5 patients and detrusor areflexia in 2. Detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia was not noted on electromyography in any patient. We observed that the urinary tract may be involved in 2 respects in the course of Lyme disease: 1) voiding dysfunction may be part of neuro-borreliosis and 2) the spirochete may directly invade the urinary tract. In 1 patient bladder infection by the Lyme spirochete was documented on biopsy. Neurological and urological symptoms in all patients were slow to resolve and convalescence was protracted. Relapses of active Lyme disease and residual neurological deficits were common. Urologists practicing in areas endemic for Lyme disease need to be aware of B. burgdorferi infection in the differential diagnosis of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Conservative bladder management including clean intermittent catheterization guided by urodynamic evaluation is recommended.
Volume
149
Issue
1
First Page
26
Last Page
30
ISSN
0022-5347
Published In/Presented At
Chancellor, M. B., McGinnis, D. E., Shenot, P. J., Kiilholma, P., & Hirsch, I. H. (1993). Urinary dysfunction in Lyme disease. The Journal of urology, 149(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-5347(17)35989-x
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
8417211
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article