The evaluation of abdominal findings in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe, fatal tick-borne viral illness endemic in many regions.
• Abdominal organ involvement is common in CCHF, yet comprehensive radiological assessments are infrequent.
• Multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) offers detailed abdominal imaging for CCHF patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between clinical laboratory measurements and abdominal findings in CCHF using MDCT.
• To document the spectrum of abdominal abnormalities detected by MDCT in CCHF patients.
• To correlate radiological findings with laboratory parameters for improved CCHF diagnosis and management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records from 443 CCHF patients.
• Focus on 51 patients who underwent abdominal MDCT examinations between April 2008 and September 2014.
• Evaluation of MDCT findings in conjunction with clinical and laboratory data.

Main Results:

• Intra-abdominal free fluid and hepatomegaly were the most frequent MDCT findings.
• Other common observations included gallbladder wall thickening, mesenteric/omental fat heterogeneity, and splenomegaly.
• Rare findings included subcutaneous edema, intramuscular hemorrhage, duodenal/colon wall thickening, pancreatitis, and acute renal failure.

Conclusions:

• This is the first comprehensive study detailing abdominal MDCT findings in CCHF.
• A strong correlation was identified between intra-abdominal free fluid and platelet count.
• Abdominal free fluid may indicate severe CCHF, particularly with platelet counts ≤50,000, and warrants close monitoring.