Pancreatitis as a severe complication of leptospirosis with fatal outcome: a case report

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Pedro Eduardo Andrade de Carvalho Gomes, Sávio de Oliveira Brilhante, Rachel Bezerra Carvalho, Daniel Ribeiro de Sousa, Elizabeth De Francesco Daher
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2019
• Subjects: Leptospirosis; Arrhythmia; Acute pancreatitis; Acute kidney injury; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-9946201961063; https://doaj.org/article/cbcb8364a74b4557bc3846659386fd09

ABSTRACT Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis with a broad clinical spectrum. This disease mostly affects liver and kidney tissues. Other organs such as the pancreas, can be affected by leptospirosis-induced vasculitis. In addition, cardiac manifestations are common, and the presence of transient ECG abnormalities can be found in 70% of the patients. We report a male patient who presented with an atypical leptospirosis that progressed with severe acute pancreatitis, acute kidney injury and atrial fibrillation. Early diagnosis and adequate supportive therapy are crucial for the appropriated management of symptoms.