[A 37-year-old patient with fever, dyspnea and elevated transaminases after a stay in Mexico]

Med Klin (Munich). 2010 Apr;105(4):286-90. doi: 10.1007/s00063-010-1045-3.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Case report: A 37-year-old patient with cephalgia and fever after his return from Mexico is reported. Due to persistently elevated transaminases, a liver biopsy was performed. Histological examination revealed hepatic involvement of a granulomatous disease. Serologic analyses detected anti-Brucella IgM. The suspected diagnosis was thus brucellosis taking the typical anamnesis into account. Treatment with rifampicin and doxycycline led to a complete convalescence of the patient.

Conclusion: Brucellosis is an anthropozoonosis that exists worldwide. Potential sources of infection are uncooked or unpasteurized milk and milk products of infected animals. Complete cure of most brucellosis-infected patients can be achieved by an early and adequate antibiotic treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood*
  • Biopsy
  • Brucella / immunology
  • Brucellosis / diagnosis*
  • Brucellosis / pathology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Dyspnea / etiology*
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / etiology*
  • Hepatitis / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Mexico
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Travel*
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Doxycycline
  • Rifampin