[Granulomatous hepatitis and fever of unknown origin]

In this paper, we review the etiological, clinical and evolutive aspects of patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) whose hepatic biopsy showed the presence of granulomas (GH). This is retrospective study covering a period of 10 years (1982-1991). The clinical records of all the patients hospitalized due to FUO (n = 71) and of all those in whose hepatic biopsy the presence of GH (n = 70) was documentated, were reviewed. Thirty patients fulfilled both criteria: FUO + GH. In our environment, Q Fever is the most frequent cause of FUO and GH in patients without infection by the HIV. On the contrary, in patients infected by HIV, the most frequent etiology is tuberculosis.