title: [Q fever as a cause of acute hepatitis accompanying fever].
abstract: Q fever is a zoonotic infection caused by Coxiella burnetti, which has been previously regarded as an uncommon infectious disease in Korea but is sporadically reported recently. Common manifestations of acute Q fever usually present as influenza-like illness, pneumonia and occasionally hepatitis. Herein, we report 4 cases of acute Q fever as a cause of acute hepatitis and fever. All patients had fever and non-specific symptoms, and laboratory test showed acute hepatitis. Antibody surveys for many virus infections and bacterial cultures were negative. Finally, they were diagnosed acute Q fever by an indirect microimmunofluorescence test. Liver biopsy in 3 patients revealed granuloma including one with typical fibrin-ring. All patients had complete resolution of symptoms and signs with doxycycline treatment. Q fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with fever of unknown origin with acute hepatitis in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Korea University of Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eileen L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Young Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.forename: Kwan Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Baek-Hui
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youngjoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin