Systemic lupus erythematosus is a protean disease which may present manifestations that resemble other diseases posing serious problems of differential diagnosis. Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection, endemic in 88 countries, whose hallmarks may mimic a lupus flare. Fever pancytopenia, splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinemia, production of autoantibodies and complement consumption are some of the overlapping features between the two diseases. Thus, extra attention must be paid to patients with lupus who present with the mentioned symptoms. Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis relies on the detection of leishmania antibodies, on the presence of amastigotes in bone marrow aspirates, biopsies and cultures of the parasite. Treatment is based on the use of i.v. liposomal amphotericin B. The missed recognition of a leishmania infection in a lupus patient may lead to death, since both the omission of a specific anti-parasite treatment and the increase of the immunosuppressive therapy, in the conviction of a lupus flare, accelerate a fatal outcome. In this paper we present a case of visceral leishmaniasis occurring in a lupus patient. The clinical and laboratory features that overlap in the two diseases and the current literature on the topic were discussed.

Leishmania in SLE mimicking an exacerbation / A., Ossandon; D., Bompane; Alessandri, Cristiano; Marocchi, Elisa; Conti, Fabrizio; Valesini, Guido. - In: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0392-856X. - STAMPA. - 24:2(2006), pp. 186-190.

Leishmania in SLE mimicking an exacerbation

ALESSANDRI, cristiano;MAROCCHI, ELISA;CONTI, FABRIZIO;VALESINI, Guido
2006

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a protean disease which may present manifestations that resemble other diseases posing serious problems of differential diagnosis. Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection, endemic in 88 countries, whose hallmarks may mimic a lupus flare. Fever pancytopenia, splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinemia, production of autoantibodies and complement consumption are some of the overlapping features between the two diseases. Thus, extra attention must be paid to patients with lupus who present with the mentioned symptoms. Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis relies on the detection of leishmania antibodies, on the presence of amastigotes in bone marrow aspirates, biopsies and cultures of the parasite. Treatment is based on the use of i.v. liposomal amphotericin B. The missed recognition of a leishmania infection in a lupus patient may lead to death, since both the omission of a specific anti-parasite treatment and the increase of the immunosuppressive therapy, in the conviction of a lupus flare, accelerate a fatal outcome. In this paper we present a case of visceral leishmaniasis occurring in a lupus patient. The clinical and laboratory features that overlap in the two diseases and the current literature on the topic were discussed.
2006
fever; pancytopenia; systemic lupus erythematosus; visceral leishmaniasis
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Leishmania in SLE mimicking an exacerbation / A., Ossandon; D., Bompane; Alessandri, Cristiano; Marocchi, Elisa; Conti, Fabrizio; Valesini, Guido. - In: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0392-856X. - STAMPA. - 24:2(2006), pp. 186-190.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/363443
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