Lyme Disease Presenting as Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Report

Abstract

Lyme disease is a rapidly growing tick-borne infection in many parts of the United States. Due to the complexity of the various symptom presentations associated with Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, is thought of as a disease-mimicking infection. The present case report summarizes the case of an adult female patient who was initially diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. After becoming refractory to autoimmune-based treatment interventions, she presented to an integrative medicine clinic where she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Symptoms resolved after following and completing an anti-microbial based protocol, symptoms resolved. Her symptoms remained resolved at follow-up.