Case of fulminant leptospirosis in a renal transplant patient.
We present a case of fulminant leptospirosis that was acquired in the suburban area by a 48-year-old male renal transplant recipient. He developed acute renal and hepatic failure with profound jaundice. Spirochetes were identified on liver biopsy. Weil's disease was suspected, and the diagnosis was further supported by a positive serum Leptospira interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae antibody titer. Unfortunately, he suffered from recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding, had a prolonged hospital course, and eventually succumbed to overwhelming sepsis. This case is the third report to our knowledge of leptospirosis in a renal transplant recipient in the English literature.
Gerasymchuk
L
L
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073, USA. ludagerasymchuk@hotmail.com
Swami
A
A
Carpenter
C F
CF
Samarapungavan
D
D
Batke
M
M
Kanhere
R
R
Robinson-Dunn
B
B
Wilson
J D
JD
Szela
J
J
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041383:Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology