Granulomatous hepatitis due to Bartonella henselae infection in an immunocompetent patient

BMC Infectious Diseases

Claus J Fimmel²  Jorge P Parada³  Amanda R Mihalik²  Ricardo G Maggi¹  Edward B Breitschwerdt¹  Sherri L Yong⁴  Thomas R VanderHeyden² 

[1] Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Caroline State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA;Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA;Division of Infectious Diseases, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA;Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA

关键词: Treatment;    Diagnosis;    Bartonella henselae;    Granulomatous hepatitis;   

Others  :  1175473
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2334-12-17

 received in 2011-07-27, accepted in 2012-01-23,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) is considered a rare cause of granulomatous hepatitis. Due to the fastidious growth characteristics of the bacteria, the limited sensitivity of histopathological stains, and the non-specific histological findings on liver biopsy, the diagnosis of hepatic bartonellosis can be difficult to establish. Furthermore, the optimal treatment of established hepatic bartonellosis remains controversial.

Case presentation

We present a case of hepatic bartonellosis in an immunocompetent woman who presented with right upper quadrant pain and a five cm right hepatic lobe mass on CT scan. The patient underwent a right hepatic lobectomy. Surgical pathology revealed florid necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis, favoring an infectious etiology. Despite extensive histological and serological evaluation a definitive diagnosis was not established initially. Thirteen months after initial presentation, hepatic bartonellosis was diagnosed by PCR studies from surgically excised liver tissue. Interestingly, the hepatic granulomas persisted and Bartonella henselae was isolated from the patient's enriched blood culture after several courses of antibiotic therapy.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of hepatic bartonellosis is exceedingly difficult to establish and requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. Recently developed, PCR-based approaches may be required in select patients to make the diagnosis. The optimal antimicrobial therapy for hepatic bartonellosis has not been established, and close follow-up is needed to ensure successful eradication of the infection.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 VanderHeyden et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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