["Post traumatic" leptospirosis complicated by acute respiratory insufficiency].
BACKGROUND
Leptospirosis is a rare cause of alveolar haemorrhage. The diagnosis is often delayed particularly when the mode of infection is atypical. These serious complications require prompt antibiotic treatment.


METHODS
A 21-year-old man was involved in a road accident and found lying unconscious in a roadside ditch containing stagnant water. Ten days later he presented with bilateral interstitial pneumonia and rapidly increasing hypoxaemia associated with cholestasis and liver cell necrosis. Broncho-alveolar lavage revealed alveolar haemorrhage. There was satisfactory resolution following antibiotic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of leptospirosis was considered initially despite negative serology (Martin and Petit) and confirmed by sero-conversion 20 days after the onset of symptoms.
Clarissou
J
J
Service de Réanimation Médico-Chirurgicale, Hôpital André Mignot, CH Versailles, Le Chesnay, France.
le Calvez
J-F
JF
Desbouchages
L
L
Ayoub
N
N
Troche
G
G
Priolet
B
B
Bruneel
F
F
Guézennec
P
P
Petitpretz
P
P
Bedos
J-P
JP
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D014881:Water Supply
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents