title: A case of uveitis due to Rickettsia conorii infection in Southeastern France.
abstract: We describe a case of skin rash and bilateral uveitis secondary to Rickettsia conorii infection. A 60-year-old female patient, living in the rural hinterland of Cannes, was referred to our hospital in mid-August 2012 for skin rash, fever, and arthromyalgia. Blood tests showed increased inflammatory markers, hepatic cytolysis and anicteric cholestasis. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral papillitis and focal chorio-retinitis. Fluoroscopic angiography demonstrated early hypofluorescence, with a few arteriolar occlusions, and subsequent hyperfluorescence and focal vasculitis. R. conorii antibodies were identified by immunofluorescence antibody test. Investigation of other infective agents and the immunological panel were negative. A 2-week course of doxycycline 200 mg/day was prescribed, and fever rapidly subsided, the skin rash resolved and vision improved. Ophthalmic examination a month and a half later showed almost all retinal lesions had disappeared and inflammation markers had returned to normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, L'Archet Hospital, Nice University Hospital, France. Electronic address: cecilecaisso@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caisso
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology, Cannes General Hospital, France. Electronic address: j.payan@ch-cannes.fr.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Payan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, L'Archet Hospital, Nice University Hospital, France. Electronic address: dunais.b@chu-nice.fr.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dunais
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, Cannes General Hospital, France. Electronic address: d.neri@ch-cannes.fr.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, Cannes General Hospital, France. Electronic address: m.vassallo@ch-cannes.fr.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vassallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020114:Rickettsia conorii / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: R. conorii; Uveitis