Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41582366›Full record

ReviewCurrent cardiology reviews2026

Long-term Cardiac Sequelae in Lyme Carditis: A Review.

Mohamed Badheeb, Ashraf Ahmed, Anton Stolear, Al-Hassan Soliman Wadan, Samdish Sethi, Juan Arango, Riyadh Saif, Rezane Miftari, Stuart Zarich

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current cardiology reviews, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mohamed BadheebDepartment of Internal Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8797-6329
Ashraf AhmedDepartment of Internal Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Anton StolearDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Al-Hassan Soliman WadanDepartment Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Galala University, Galala Plateau, Attaka, Suez Governorate, Egypt.
Samdish SethiDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Juan ArangoDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Riyadh SaifDepartment of Internal Medicine, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USA.
Rezane MiftariDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.ORCID 0009-0006-1917-0802
Stuart ZarichCardiovascular Medicine, Yale New-Haven Health - Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionLyme disease, primarily caused by Borrelia burgdorferi in North America, is a common spirochetal infection transmitted via tick bites. The dissemination of Lyme spirochetes can result in multisystem complications, including Lyme carditis.

methodsThis review incorporated data from observational studies, retrospective analyses, systematic reviews, and case reports involving patients with confirmed or presumed Lyme carditis. Key outcomes included prevalence, reversibility, and chronicity of cardiac involvement, as well as diagnostic and prognostic implications.

resultsAtrioventricular block represents the most prevalent conduction abnormality in Lyme carditis, occurring in up to 90% of cases, with high-degree of persistent blocks potentially necessitating temporary or permanent pacing. While the majority of conduction abnormalities resolve with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, a subset of patients experience persistent dysfunction. Structural complications, including myocarditis, pericarditis, and, less frequently, endocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, have been documented. Emerging evidence suggests that persistent myocardial inflammation and autoimmune mechanisms may contribute to the development of longterm cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Reports of coronary artery involvement and aneurysmal changes, though rare, raise further concern regarding chronic cardiovascular risk. DISCUSSION: This review highlights several cardiovascular complications of Lyme carditis that can persist despite medical therapy. While permanent conduction abnormalities, fulminant myocarditis, and subsequent ventricular dysfunction have been reported, studies on chronic heart failure are limited, and coronary artery involvement remains underrecognized, necessitating further research.

conclusionWhile Lyme carditis is generally self-limited with timely therapy, accumulating evidence indicates the potential for lasting cardiac sequelae. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to delineate risk factors, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and optimal strategies for longterm surveillance and management.

Indexed as

Lyme DiseaseMyocarditisAtrioventricular BlockHumanscardiac manifestationsconduction abnormalitieslong-term complicationsLyme carditisLyme diseasepathophysiologic mechanisms

Identifiers

PMID41582366
PMCPMC13519574

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.