[Immune and autoimmune manifestations of autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis with liver, kidney and vascular involvement].

The authors report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in the adult contracted in the South or South-East of France, primarily with an important involvement of the liver and a production of antinuclear and smooth muscle auto-antibodies, rheumatoid factors, cryoglobulins and probable circulating immune complexes, and secondarily complicated with transient involvement of kidneys and skin vessels. The geographic origin of the infection and the pathogenesis of these disorders are discussed. A cross reaction between specific antibodies and auto-antibodies was looked for.