[Respiratory lesions in Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever]

To characterize pathogenesis, clinical, laboratory and x-ray features of respiratory disease in Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

CCHF diagnosis was made in 283 patients basing on the detection in blood of specific antibodies by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum cytokines were measured with EIA.

Pulmonary lesion in CCHF had characteristics of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It manifested in the hemorrhagic period with blood spitting, pulmonary hemorrhage and bleeding into the pleural cavity. A high level of proinflammatory cytokines in the blood correlated with the disease severity.

Respiratory affection in CCHF was seen at all the stages of the infectious process. ARDS occurs during hemorrhagic manifestations and is accompanied with systemic inflammatory reaction.