Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report
Abstract Background Bartonella henselae is a species of intracellular bacteria transmitted to humans through animal bites and scratches contaminated with the feces of arthropod vectors, and are most commonly associated with cat exposure although transmission from other mammals has been reported. Bar...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:458d36f0bca04d8aa03420094c83bab4 2023-11-05T03:39:51+01:00 Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report Amanda Hempel Fizza Manzoor Dan Petrescu 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 https://doaj.org/article/458d36f0bca04d8aa03420094c83bab4 EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 https://doaj.org/toc/2055-0936 doi:10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 2055-0936 https://doaj.org/article/458d36f0bca04d8aa03420094c83bab4 Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-6 (2023) Bartonella Bartonellosis Cat-scratch disease Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis HLH Immunocompetent Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 2023-10-08T00:39:27Z Abstract Background Bartonella henselae is a species of intracellular bacteria transmitted to humans through animal bites and scratches contaminated with the feces of arthropod vectors, and are most commonly associated with cat exposure although transmission from other mammals has been reported. Bartonella henselae infection has a spectrum of clinical manifestations and has rarely been reported as cause of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in immunocompromised hosts. Case presentation We present a report of Bartonella henselae infection progressing to HLH in an immunocompetent patient. The patient initially presented with regional lymphadenopathy but the diagnosis was not suspected as the patient reported no exposure to cats. On further history, he did report a scratch from a dog prior to development of symptoms. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and anakinra for the HLH and three months of Doxycycline for Bartonella infection, with complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions Although commonly associated with cat exposure, Bartonella henselae transmission can occur after exposure to other animals and vectors including dogs and clinicians need to maintain an index of suspicion for timely diagnosis. Bartonella henselae is associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations which can include disseminated infection with severe complications such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Prompt initiation of Bartonella treatment is essential when thought to be the trigger for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis although the optimal treatment regimen is unclear. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines 9 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Bartonella Bartonellosis Cat-scratch disease Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis HLH Immunocompetent Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 |
spellingShingle |
Bartonella Bartonellosis Cat-scratch disease Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis HLH Immunocompetent Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Amanda Hempel Fizza Manzoor Dan Petrescu Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
topic_facet |
Bartonella Bartonellosis Cat-scratch disease Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis HLH Immunocompetent Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 |
description |
Abstract Background Bartonella henselae is a species of intracellular bacteria transmitted to humans through animal bites and scratches contaminated with the feces of arthropod vectors, and are most commonly associated with cat exposure although transmission from other mammals has been reported. Bartonella henselae infection has a spectrum of clinical manifestations and has rarely been reported as cause of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in immunocompromised hosts. Case presentation We present a report of Bartonella henselae infection progressing to HLH in an immunocompetent patient. The patient initially presented with regional lymphadenopathy but the diagnosis was not suspected as the patient reported no exposure to cats. On further history, he did report a scratch from a dog prior to development of symptoms. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and anakinra for the HLH and three months of Doxycycline for Bartonella infection, with complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions Although commonly associated with cat exposure, Bartonella henselae transmission can occur after exposure to other animals and vectors including dogs and clinicians need to maintain an index of suspicion for timely diagnosis. Bartonella henselae is associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations which can include disseminated infection with severe complications such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Prompt initiation of Bartonella treatment is essential when thought to be the trigger for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis although the optimal treatment regimen is unclear. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Amanda Hempel Fizza Manzoor Dan Petrescu |
author_facet |
Amanda Hempel Fizza Manzoor Dan Petrescu |
author_sort |
Amanda Hempel |
title |
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
title_short |
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
title_full |
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
title_fullStr |
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
title_sort |
hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized bartonella henselae infection: a case report |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 https://doaj.org/article/458d36f0bca04d8aa03420094c83bab4 |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-6 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 https://doaj.org/toc/2055-0936 doi:10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 2055-0936 https://doaj.org/article/458d36f0bca04d8aa03420094c83bab4 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-023-00200-1 |
container_title |
Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1781695787078516736 |