Case report: Blood purification effectively relieves multiple system failure in patient with rabies

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is a fatal zoonotic disease with limited early diagnostic markers and no effective treatments.
• Early-stage RABV is often undetectable in saliva and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), complicating timely diagnosis and intervention.

Observation:

• A 45-year-old woman presented with classic rabies symptoms including hydrophobia and hyperactivity.
• Rabies virus was detected in saliva using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), confirming the diagnosis.
• The patient experienced multisystemic failure, including circulatory, respiratory, and renal complications.

Findings:

• Hemodialysis (a form of blood purification) combined with antiviral therapy and intensive care unit (ICU) management provided temporary relief from organ failures.
• Despite intensive treatment, the patient ultimately succumbed to brain death on the 34th day of admission.

Implications:

• Blood purification demonstrated a positive effect in managing rabies-induced organ failure.
• This case suggests that combining blood purification with antiviral therapy may prolong survival in rabies patients, offering a potential supportive care strategy.