Q fever hepatitis and endocarditis in the context of haemochromatosis

Abstract

Hereditary haemochromatosis is associated with increased susceptibility to some infections. We report here a case of Q fever in a patient with coexistent haemochromatosis. The literature is reviewed in regard to the effect of haemochromatosis on susceptibility to infectious disease in general and Q fever in particular. Although there is documented increased risk in these patients for some infectious conditions, a specific association with Q fever has not been previously reported. The present report raises the possibility of such a clinically relevant connection.

Figure 1

(A) H&E stain of initial biopsy demonstrating ill-defined granulomatous inflammation, (B) silver stain of initial biopsy demonstrating intracellular organism (arrows) and (C) Prussian blue stain of subsequent biopsy demonstrating intracellular iron deposits and no fungal organisms.