title: Clinical and laboratory features parameters of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) in patients admitted to hospital in Guangdong Province, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is an acute tick-borne infectious disease with increasing morbidity and mortality, but is rarely considered in clinical practice. Because human-to-human transfusion or nosocomial transmission can occur, diagnosis is difficult when the history of tick bites is not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present clinical features and laboratory data of HGA patients who had no clear tick bite history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients in the study presented with a high fever, petechiae, purpura, nose bleeding and leukopenia, and patients had abnormally high levels of serum ferritin and C-reactive protein. Morulae in leukocytes were observed in three patients. Foamy histiocytes and slight erythrophagocytic activity were only found in severely ill patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with fever and thrombocytopenia in whom no other diagnosis is evident on clinical assessment, HGA should be considered in the differential diagnosis, and tested for serologically if possible. For patients in whom the diagnosis of HGA is possible, and to whom tetracyclines can safely be given, it is apparent that these drugs hasten recovery and improve the prognosis.
authors: PhD, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors: Xiao-yang
authors: XY
authors: Jiao
authors: MS, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors: Zhi-chen
authors: ZC
authors: Fan
authors: MS, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors: Ya-zhen
authors: YZ
authors: Li
authors: PhD, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, PR China.
authors: Yue-ting
authors: YT
authors: Tang
authors: PhD, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong Province, PR China Professor, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantuo, Guangdong Province, PR China; Institute of Microbiology, Center for Diseases Control and Prevention of Guangdong Province, PR China kecw2011@sina.com.
authors: Chang-wen
authors: CW
authors: Ke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018884:Ixodes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000382:microbiology*; D064927:Tick Bites / Q000150:complications; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis; clinical characteristics; thrombocytopenia