title: Culture-proved disseminated cat-scratch disease in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: A male homosexual (positive for the human immunodeficiency virus) with a recent cat scratch developed fever, epitrochlear and axillary lymphadenopathy, and retinitis. Subsequently, he developed skin (epitheloid hemangioma) and mucosal lesions (Kaposi's sarcoma), multiple liver abscesses, and pleural effusion. Warthin-Starry stains and/or electron micrographs of lymph nodes and skin lesions demonstrated bacilli characteristic of those associated with cat-scratch disease. Cultures of lymph node, pleural fluid, and liver abscess specimens yielded organisms believed to be the causative agent of cat-scratch disease. We believe that disseminated cat-scratch disease may become an indicator of opportunistic infection signaling acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in a patient who is positive for the human immunodeficiency virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Episcopal Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19125.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlossberg
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morad
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Krouse
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wear
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Littman
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male