title: Visceral leishmaniasis complicating a connective tissue disease: three case reports from Italy.
abstract: We report the occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis in three patients coming from the northern part of Italy treated with immunosuppressive drugs for different rheumatic conditions. This paper highlights the importance of adequate work-up in those patients presenting with serious clinical manifestations that can complicate, exacerbate or mimic a systemic connective tissue disorder. A prompt diagnosis is very important because visceral leishmaniasis has a high mortality and, if untreated, can be fatal.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Unità Operativa di Reumatologia, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Italy. gabriella_castellino@yahoo.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castellino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Govoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Monaco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montecucco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007558:Italy; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B