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Ehrlichiosis associated vasculitis.
N Pick1, I Potasman, C Strenger
1Infectious Diseases Unit, Bnai Zion Medical Center, and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
Journal of Internal Medicine
|July 8, 2000
Summary
Infection with human monocytic ehrlichiosis may cause some cases of vasculitis. Further research could identify patients who might benefit from antibiotic treatment for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Rheumatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Vasculitis encompasses a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of blood vessels.
- The etiology of many primary vasculitis cases remains unknown.
- Ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne bacterial infection, is a potential, though under-investigated, cause of vasculitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that ehrlichiosis may be an underlying cause of certain primary vasculitis cases.
- To explore the serological evidence of Ehrlichia infection in patients diagnosed with vasculitis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case study design was employed.
- Serological analysis of stored sera from 55 patients with diagnosed vasculitis was performed.
- Testing included serology for human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, alongside PCR analysis of biopsy specimens.
Main Results:
- Serological evidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection (titers ≥ 1:128) was found in 3 patients (5.5%).
- No patients tested positive for the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent.
- Skin biopsies revealed vasculitis compatible with polyarteritis nodosa, allergic purpura, and unspecified vasculitis, but PCR analysis was negative.
Conclusions:
- Human monocytic ehrlichiosis is a potential underlying cause for some vasculitis presentations.
- Confirmation of this link could lead to identifying vasculitis patients responsive to antibiotic therapy.