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Q-fever. The liver and bone marrow pathology
The American Journal of Surgical Pathology
|October 1, 1985
Summary
Q-fever (Coxiella burnetii infection) can cause varied liver and bone marrow changes. Histopathology shows granulomas, but rickettsiae are rarely seen, necessitating Q-fever in differential diagnoses for granulomatous disease.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
- Histology
Background:
- Q-fever is a zoonotic infection caused by Coxiella burnetii.
- Diagnosis often relies on serology, but histopathological findings are crucial for understanding disease manifestations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the histopathological features of liver and bone marrow biopsies in patients with Q-fever.
- To determine the diagnostic value of histopathology in Q-fever cases.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 18 liver and 7 bone marrow biopsies from 44 patients with confirmed Q-fever.
- Histological examination using standard stains and electron microscopy.
- Microbiologic stains were used to identify rickettsiae.
Main Results:
- Fibrin-ring granulomas were observed in 7 liver and 4 bone marrow specimens.
- Nonspecific granulomas with neutrophils and giant cells were found in 13 livers and 7 bone marrows.
- Non-granulomatous changes, including steatosis and reactive hepatitis, were common in liver biopsies; rickettsiae were not identified.
Conclusions:
- The histological presentation of Q-fever in liver and bone marrow is diverse.
- Q-fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous diseases affecting these organs.