Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient treated for polyarteritis nodosa.
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.
Scatena
P
P
Department of Medicine IV, Azienda Ospedaliera Pisana, via Paradisa 2, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Messina
F
F
Gori
S
S
Ruocco
L
L
Vignali
C
C
Menichetti
F
F
Castiglioni
M
M
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*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D013256:Steroids; D003520:Cyclophosphamide