Ehrlichiosis associated vasculitis.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that some cases of primary vasculitis are caused by ehrlichiosis.


METHODS
A retrospective case study and serological analysis of stored sera.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients discharged with any type of vasculitis over a 6-year period.


METHODS
Serology for human monocytic ehrlichiosis, and the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of biopsy specimens.


RESULTS
Three patients (5.5%) had titres of 1 : 128 or higher against E. chaffeensis; none was positive for the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent. Skin biopsies of these patients showed lesions compatible with polyarteritis nodosa, allergic purpura and unspecified vasculitis. PCR analysis of the biopsies was unrevealing.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection with human monocytic ehrlichiosis may underlie some forms of vasculitis. If confirmed, these findings may help identify patients with vasculitis who would benefit from antibiotic treatment.
Pick
N
N
Infectious Diseases Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
Potasman
I
I
Strenger
C
C
Keysary
A
A
Schwartz
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018469:Ehrlichia chaffeensis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000382:microbiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial