Bartonella henselae endocarditis in an immunocompetent adult.
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.
Holmes
A H
AH
Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center Hospital, Massachusetts, USA.
Greenough
T C
TC
Balady
G J
GJ
Regnery
R L
RL
Anderson
B E
BE
O'Keane
J C
JC
Fonger
J D
JD
McCrone
E L
EL
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
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial