title: Visceral leishmaniasis mimicking a flare of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Fever in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be caused by exacerbation of the disease itself or by infection. We report on a patient with a long standing history of SLE that was complicated by fever and pancytopenia with no splenomegaly. SLE disease activity was suspected because of an elevated DNA-antibody titer. The early positive response to corticoid therapy may have masked the underlying infection. Visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed by a repeated bone marrow biopsy and serological testing.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatologische Arbeitsgruppe, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieper
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Janitschke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000209:etiology