A Case of Acute Q Fever with Severe Acute Cholestatic Hepatitis

ABSTRACT

Minimal hepatic dysfunction can be common in acute Q fever, but severe acute cholestatic hepatitis is rarely reported. We report on a 55-year-old male with acute Q fever and severe acute cholestatic hepatitis. He complained of fever, jaundice, ascites, and restlessness on admission. A liver biopsy revealed the presence of compact fibrin-ring granulomas. Serologic titers for C. burnetii IgM and IgG were 20481 and 10241, respectively. C. burnetii DNA was detected by a nested polymerase chain reaction on the liver tissue.