title: Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient treated for polyarteritis nodosa.
abstract: We report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a patient receiving steroids and cyclophosphamide for polyarteritis nodosa. The clinical presentation of leishmaniasis, with fever, pancitopenia and hypergammaglobulinemia may be confused with a reactivation of vasculitis or with other non-infectious conditions such as haematologic diseases. In endemic areas, the case of latent leishmaniasis must be considered and serology for Leishmania should be performed before starting immunosuppressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine IV, Azienda Ospedaliera Pisana, via Paradisa 2, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scatena
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vignali
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D013256:Steroids; D003520:Cyclophosphamide