Severe anemia, panserositis, and cryptogenic hepatitis in an HIV patient infected with Bartonella henselae

Abstract

Bartonella spp. constitute emerging pathogens of worldwide distribution. Bacillary angiomatosis is the most frequent skin manifestation of bartonelloses; nevertheless, B. henselae infection should always be considered systemic, especially in immunodeficient individuals. The authors report the case of an AIDS patient with bacillary angiomatosis, who had concurrent severe anemia, hepatitis, peritonitis, pleuritis, and pericarditis. Clinical manifestation, electronic microscopic examination of erythrocytes, and histopathology of a papule biopsy suggested a Bartonella sp. infection. Multiple genes were target by PCR and B. henselae DNA was amplified and sequenced (GenBank accession number EF196804) from the angiomatous papule. Treatment with clarithromycin resulted in resolution of the bacillary angiomatosis, fever, anemia, panserosites, and hepatitis.