Suspicious Index Lyme Carditis score (SILC score)

The Suspicious Index Lyme Carditis score, or SILC score, is a clinical calculator used in the assessment of patients suspected of having Lyme carditis, a complication of Lyme disease that affects the heart. This scoring system is particularly applicable to patients presenting with unexplained cardiac symptoms, especially in areas where Lyme disease is endemic. The SILC score uses a combination of clinical, electrocardiographic, and demographic factors to estimate the likelihood of Lyme carditis in a patient. These factors include age, sex, presenting symptoms, and specific electrocardiogram (ECG) findings. The clinical utility of the SILC score is to aid in the early identification and treatment of Lyme carditis, which can prevent the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of long-term cardiac complications. It can also help to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures in patients who are unlikely to have Lyme carditis. Exclusion criteria for the use of the SILC score may include patients with a known history of cardiac disease or other conditions that could explain their symptoms, as well as patients who do not reside in or have not recently traveled to an area where Lyme disease is prevalent.

Reference

Georgia Besant, Douglas Wan, Cynthia Yeung et al. Suspicious index in Lyme carditis: Systematic review and proposed new risk score. Clin Cardiol. 2018 Dec;41(12):1611-1616.