title: Visceral leishmaniasis in a psoriatic arthritis patient treated with methotrexate.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis, in Greece, represents a relatively rare, potentially fatal clinical entity. Here we describe a case of visceral leishmaniasis infection in a 65-year old Greek male with psoriatic arthritis treated with methotrexate, who presented with high grade fever, chills, splenomegaly, pancytopenia and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia. A diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis was finally established. Visceral leishmaniasis should be included in the differential diagnosis for infections in patients receiving methotrexate for rheumatic diseases, especially in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjipetrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anyfantakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Argyro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gkogkou
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palla
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagoudaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Theoharoula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milonaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chania General Hospital St. George; Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania; Department of Haematology, Chania General Hospital St. George, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Serafim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kastanakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate