Doxycycline and chloroquine as treatment for chronic Q fever endocarditis.
Endocarditis is a rare but severe complication of Q fever, an infectious disease caused by the intracellular pathogen Coxiella burnetii. Heart involvement is the most common clinical presentation of chronic Q fever, and it occurs almost invariably in patients with previous valvular disease or artificial valves, and in the immunocompromised host. The optimal treatment of Q fever endocarditis is still today debated, and recommended duration of treatment varies from one year to one's lifespan. A case of chronic Q fever endocarditis is described in a patient with biological prosthetic aortic valve and aortic homograft, successfully treated with doxycycline and chloroquine for 2 years.
Calza
L
L
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Bologna, S. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy. malinf@med.unibo.it
Attard
L
L
Manfredi
R
R
Chiodo
F
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001011:Aorta / Q000637:transplantation; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002738:Chloroquine; D004318:Doxycycline