title: Two rare manifestations of Q fever: splenic and hepatic abscesses and cerebral venous thrombosis, with literature review ma non troppo.
abstract: Q fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. It often manifests as a flu-like syndrome; other common manifestations are pneumonia, hepatitis and endocarditis. Its course may be acute or chronic. The authors present two clinical cases of Q fever with rare manifestations. Case 1: A 55-year-old man admitted due to abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fever. Blood tests showed elevated transaminases, low platelets and elevated C reactive protein, with normal white cell counts; abdominal ultrasound showed splenic and hepatic abscesses. Serologies to C burnetii were positive (1:640), leading to the diagnosis of Q fever with splenic and hepatic abscesses. Case 2: A 47-year-old man admitted due to headache after sneezing, with unstable gait and vertigo. A brain tomography showed cerebral venous thrombosis. After an exhaustive investigation, antibodies to C burnetii were found and were undoubtedly positive (1:5120), leading to the diagnosis of Q fever. Both patients were treated with oral doxycycline.
authors: Serviço de Medicina Interna, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Manuel Mendes
authors: MM
authors: Gomes
authors: Andreia
authors: A
authors: Chaves
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Gouveia
authors: Lèlita
authors: L
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002550:Cerebral Veins; D016997:Coxiella burnetii; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*