Background

The clinical course of children with advanced heart block secondary to Lyme disease has not been well characterized.

Objective

To review the presentation, management, and time to resolution of heart block due to Lyme disease in previously healthy children.

Methods

An IRB approved single-center retrospective study was conducted of all patients < 21 years old with confirmed Lyme disease and advanced second or third degree heart block between 2007 and 2017.

Results

Twelve patients (100% male) with a mean age of 15.9 years (range 13.2–18.1) were identified. Six patients (50%) had mild to moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation and all had normal biventricular function. Five patients had advanced second degree heart block and 7 had complete heart block with an escape rate of 20–57 bpm. Isoproterenol was used in 4 patients for 3–4 days and one patient required transvenous pacing for 2 days. Patients were treated with 21 days (n = 6, 50%) or 28 days (n = 6, 50%) of antibiotics. Three patients received steroids for 3–4 days. Advanced heart block resolved in all patients within 2–5 days, and all had a normal PR interval within 3 days to 16 months from hospital discharge.

Conclusion

Symptomatic children who present with new high-grade heart block from an endemic area should be tested for Lyme disease. Antibiotic therapy provides quick and complete resolution of advanced heart block within 5 days, while steroids did not appear to shorten the time course in this case series. Importantly, no patients required a permanent pacemaker.

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