[Unusual manifestations of Q fever disclosing hairy cell leukemia]

An unusual case of Q fever in a 62-year-old female is described. The patient presented with severe pneumonia and developed renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation and pancytopenia which recurred after antibiotics were discontinued. Subsequently hairy cell leukemia was diagnosed and evolved favorably under treatment with doxycycline and alpha-interferon. A review of the literature confirms that renal failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation do not appear to be associated with Coxiella burnetti infections, nor has the association of Q fever and hairy cell leukemia been previously described.