A 74-year-old man developed myasthenia gravis (MG) after getting Lyme disease, an illness caused by bacteria spread by tick bites. This case was shared in a recent case report published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
The man already had heart disease, kidney problems and prostate cancer. Over two weeks, he began having trouble swallowing and speaking. His eyelids started to droop, and his neck felt weak.
At first, doctors thought his symptoms were caused by a reaction to his medicine. This mistake delayed the correct diagnosis.
Later tests showed problems where nerves connect to muscles, which suggested he had MG. Blood tests found antibodies (proteins) linked to MG and also showed signs of a Lyme disease infection.
Because his condition was serious, the man was treated in intensive care. Doctors used plasma exchange to remove harmful antibodies and gave him antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. He also received medicines to calm his immune system and help his muscles work better. After treatment, his symptoms improved greatly.
Read more about MG causes and risk factors
MG happens when the body’s immune system attacks the receptors that help nerves talk to muscles, blocking nerve signals to the muscles. Infections can sometimes confuse the immune system and trigger this attack.
Other infections, like Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus (HPV) and poliovirus, have been linked to MG before. This case is rare because Lyme disease is not usually known to trigger MG.
Although one case cannot prove a cause, this report shows that “Lyme disease should be considered a potential trigger for MG, particularly in patients presenting with overlapping signs such as facial weakness,” the researchers said.
More research is needed to understand how Lyme disease and other infections might play a role in causing MG.
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