Splenic Infarction Associated with Acute Brucellosis: A Case Report

Wissem Hachfi, Foued Bellazreg, Amira Atig, Nadia Ben Lasfar, Naoufel Kaabia, Amel Letaief

Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.

DOI: 10.4236/aid.2012.24014                

Abstract

We report a case of a 21-year-old shepherd who presented with fever, left hypochondrium pain and splenomegaly. Blood tests showed thrombocytopenia and high liver enzymes. Computed tomography scan revealed the presence of hypodense lesions suggestive of splenic infarction. Echocardiography was without abnormalities. Laboratory evaluation for thrombophilia was negative. A bone marrow aspiration and a bone marrow biopsy were normal. Brucella serology was positive. The patient was treated with doxycycline, rifampicin and streptomycin for 12 weeks. Fever, abdominal pain and thrombocytopenia resolved promptly. At one year of follow-up, he remained well and no splenic infarction could be detected on ultrasonography.

Keywords

Brucellosis; Splenic Infarction; Thrombocytopenia

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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