A case of acute quadriplegia complicating Mediterranean spotted fever.
Mediterranean spotted fever is a rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia conorii. Mediterranean spotted fever is considered to be a benign disease, however, approximately 10% of patients present with a severe systemic manifestation in which neurologic involvement occurs. We present a case of an 80-year-old man with a R. conorii infection who developed an acute quadriplegia secondary to an axonal polyneuropathy. The characteristic tache noire was observed on the lateral region of the thigh and elevated IgM antibody titres against R. conorii were detected by an indirect immunofluorescence test.
Caroleo
Santo
S
Institute of Anaesthesiology, Reanimation and Intensive Care Medicine, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy. askatasuna17@libero.it
Longo
Chiara
C
Pirritano
Domenico
D
Nisticò
Rita
R
Valentino
Paola
P
Iocco
Maurizio
M
Santangelo
Ermenegildo
E
Amantea
Bruno
B
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003422:Critical Care; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D004318:Doxycycline