Severe Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in a lung transplant recipient: a review of ehrlichiosis in the immunocompromised patient.

Abstract

We describe a case of human ehrlichiosis in a lung transplant recipient and review published reports on ehrlichiosis in immunocompromised patients. Despite early therapy with doxycycline, our patient had unusually severe illness with features of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Of 23 reported cases of ehrlichiosis in immunocompromised patients, organ failure occurred in all patients and 6 (25%) died.

• Authors: Nasia Safdar, Robert B Love, Dennis G Maki
• Journal: Emerging infectious diseases (Emerg Infect Dis) Vol. 8 Issue 3 Pg. 320-3 (Mar 2002) ISSN: 1080-6040 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11927032 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Doxycycline

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Doxycycline (therapeutic use)
• Ehrlichia chaffeensis (pathogenicity)
• Ehrlichiosis (diagnosis, mortality, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Lung Transplantation
• Male
• Postoperative Complications (drug therapy)