Coxiella burnetii Infection Associated With Thromboangiitis Obliterans-like Phenomena With Digital Autoamputation: A Case Report and Review of Q Fever-Associated Autoimmunity

Zachary Shepard; Tara Skorupa; Leigh Espinoza; Kristine Erlandson; Laura Damioli

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofab637

Coxiella burnetii Infection Associated With Thromboangiitis Obliterans-like Phenomena With Digital Autoamputation: A Case Report and Review of Q Fever-Associated Autoimmunity

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 Dec 16;9(1):ofab637. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab637. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Authors

Zachary Shepard¹, Tara Skorupa², Leigh Espinoza¹, Kristine Erlandson¹, Laura Damioli¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado, USA.
² Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Abstract

We present a case of a patient with chronic Q fever who presented with digital necrosis, autoamputations, and positive anticentromere antibody, mimicking a scleroderma vasculopathy or thromboangiitis obliterans. Coxiella burnetii infection has long been associated with the presence of autoantibodies and autoimmune phenomena including vasculitis. Clinicians should consider Q fever testing in patients with new-onset autoimmune diseases or autoantibodies and appropriate exposure histories.

Keywords: Coxiella burnetii; Q fever; anticentromere antibody; autoimmunity; thromboangiitis obliterans.