title: Bartonella henselae endocarditis in an immunocompetent adult.
abstract: We describe a case of aggressive Bartonella henselae endocarditis in an immunocompetent man who owned a cat. Aortic valve replacement was required, and his infection was diagnosed by histology, serology, and polymerase chain reaction analysis. The manifestations of his disease included mediastinal lymphadenopathy, glomerulonephritis, myocarditis, and a petechial rash; the unusual finding of a positive titer of c-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies was noted. Serological titers were markedly elevated for > 1 year despite clinical improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center Hospital, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Greenough
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Balady
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Regnery
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: O'Keane
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fonger
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: McCrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000382:microbiology*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial