Marc Weiner1, Matteo Coen2,3, Jacques Serratrice2, Thomas A Mavrakanas4, Antonio Leidi2. 1. Department of General Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland. marc.weiner@hcuge.ch. 2. Department of General Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education (UDREM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is an underdiagnosed bacterial infection with nonspecific symptoms, hence, a diagnostic challenge. Identifying a case of leptospirosis in Switzerland is uncommon. Although kidney complications are frequent in severe forms, including tubular dysfunction, observing this complication is rare in our country. We report the case of a patient with leptospirosis and kidney dysfunction, which was notable for proximal tubulopathy. This case report describes the diagnosis and management of this patient's tubular dysfunction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old Caucasian male known for alcohol and drug abuse presented to our emergency department suffering from severe pain in the lower limbs, jaundice, and fever with flu-like symptoms. Physical examination was not contributory. Blood tests showed cytopenia, elevated inflammatory markers, acute kidney injury, and altered liver function tests with predominant cholestasis. Urinalysis showed proteinuria and significant glycosuria without concomitant hyperglycemia. Leptospirosis was suspected and confirmed by both positive serum polymerase chain reaction and elevated immunoglobulin M for Leptospira interrogans. The patient was treated with intravenous amoxicillin-clavulanate and doxycycline for 7 days. After antibiotic treatment, symptoms disappeared, and kidney dysfunction completely resolved. CONCLUSION: Our case focuses on the description of leptospirosis-related acute kidney injury with proximal tubular dysfunction, which is a rare finding in Switzerland.
BACKGROUND:Leptospirosis is an underdiagnosed bacterial infection with nonspecific symptoms, hence, a diagnostic challenge. Identifying a case of leptospirosis in Switzerland is uncommon. Although kidney complications are frequent in severe forms, including tubular dysfunction, observing this complication is rare in our country. We report the case of a patient with leptospirosis and kidney dysfunction, which was notable for proximal tubulopathy. This case report describes the diagnosis and management of this patient's tubular dysfunction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old Caucasian male known for alcohol and drug abuse presented to our emergency department suffering from severe pain in the lower limbs, jaundice, and fever with flu-like symptoms. Physical examination was not contributory. Blood tests showed cytopenia, elevated inflammatory markers, acute kidney injury, and altered liver function tests with predominant cholestasis. Urinalysis showed proteinuria and significant glycosuria without concomitant hyperglycemia. Leptospirosis was suspected and confirmed by both positive serum polymerase chain reaction and elevated immunoglobulin M for Leptospira interrogans. The patient was treated with intravenous amoxicillin-clavulanate and doxycycline for 7 days. After antibiotic treatment, symptoms disappeared, and kidney dysfunction completely resolved. CONCLUSION: Our case focuses on the description of leptospirosis-related acute kidney injury with proximal tubular dysfunction, which is a rare finding in Switzerland.
Authors: Peter W Schreiber; Leonardo Aceto; Raphael Korach; Nelson Marreros; Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis; Huldrych F Günthard Journal: Open Forum Infect Dis Date: 2015-07-07 Impact factor: 3.835