title: Acute Q fever presenting as antiphospholipid syndrome, pneumonia, and acalculous cholecystitis and masquerading as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and hepatitis C viral infections.
abstract: We report a case of Q fever-related antiphospholipid syndrome in a patient  presenting with acalculous cholecystitis and pneumonia. Serial laboratory tests indicated that  the previous serological tests suggesting hepatitis C virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections  were false-positives. The patient's fever persisted despite treatment with doxycycline, but  disappeared 1 day after initiation of steroid treatment. To avoid incorrect diagnosis and  subsequent delays in appropriate treatment of Q fever patients, the possibility that Q fever can  masquerade as other infections or as an autoimmune disease should be kept in mind.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung University Medical College, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Chen-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Lee
authors: Seng-Kee
authors: SK
authors: Chuah
authors: Sung-Nan
authors: SN
authors: Pei
authors: Jien-Wei
authors: JW
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D042101:Acalculous Cholecystitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids; D004318:Doxycycline