Acute Q fever hepatitis in Taiwan.
We report a case of a chronic hepatitis B carrier with an episode of acute hepatitis. The patient presented with a headache, arthralgias, jaundice and fever. While the laboratory tests mimicked chronic hepatitis B with an acute exacerbation, lipogranulomatous changes seen in the liver biopsy strongly suggested the presence of Q fever. Serology testing for Coxiella burneti proved positive and the patient responded to tetracycline therapy. While previously unreported in Taiwan, Q fever is important to consider in an atypical hepatitis presentation because it is a treatable condition.
Wu
C S
CS
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chang
K Y
KY
Lee
C S
CS
Chen
T J
TJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013624:Taiwan; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013752:Tetracycline