To the Editor-Phase-4 RBBB in Lyme carditis?

Maxwell and colleagues recently reported the case of an adolescent with Lyme carditis who exhibited high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block and “phase-4 right bundle branch block (RBBB).”

I disagree with their diagnosis of phase-4 RBBB.

Figure 2 shows sinus rhythm at rates (107–125 beats/min) associated with narrow QRS and first- and second-degree type 1 AV block (including atypical AV block). Wide QRS complexes with an RBBB pattern and a right axis deviation are also present. It is likely that these RBBB complexes are merely ventricular escape beats originating from the left ventricle. The intervals between P wave onset and the RBBB complexes markedly vary, ranging from 340 to 380 ms (Figure 2A), 160 to 200 ms (Figure 2B) and 140 to 160 ms (Figure 2C). All these values markedly contrast with that of the only PR interval in Figure 2, which undoubtedly is associated with normal AV nodal conduction (PR = 240 ms on the seventh QRS complex in Figure 2C). It is unlikely that a relatively short PR interval (140–160 ms) would be associated with RBBB (Figure 2C) while the PR associated with AV nodal conduction is much longer. Finally, the fusion beat between the normal QRS and the RBBB escape beat (third QRS in Figure 2C) is an additional proof of the ventricular origin of the escape beat.

The RBBB escape beats in Figure 2 are similar to those observed during complete AV block in Figure 1. Interestingly, despite the presumed AV nodal location of the AV block, the escape beat has a ventricular origin. Such findings have been previously reported2, 3, 4 and could have been interpreted as suggesting severe involvement of the His-Purkinje system. In fact, the lack of bundle branch disturbances after recovering of AV conduction militates against any involvement of the His-Purkinje system in this patient.