Clinical features of leptospirosis experienced in a university hospital between 2001 and 2007 / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance. In addition, pulmonary involvement of this disease has been increasingly reported in recent decades. The present study was performed to analyze the clinical features of leptospirosis experienced during recent years and to investigate the clinical significance of pulmonary involvement. METHODS: Patients with serologically confirmed leptospirosis who visited Chonnam National University Hospital from 2001 to 2007 were enrolled in this study. Epidemiologic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcomes of patients with leptospirosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Among a total of 68 patients, 47 (69.1%) had a history of occupational exposure. Fever (88.2%), myalgia (80.9%), headache (69.1%), hypotension (51.5%), dyspnea (44.1%), and abdominal pain (55.9%) were commonly observed. The overall case fatality rate was 5.8%. In the group of patients with pulmonary involvement (n=44), dyspnea, hemoptysis, renal dysfunction, and thrombocytopenia were more frequently observed than in patients without pulmonary involvement (n=24). Mixed type presentations and the use of mechanical ventilation were more commonly observed in patients with pulmonary involvement as compared to patients without pulmonary involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Leptospirosis with pulmonary involvement is common and may have severe clinical outcomes. Therefore, close monitoring and intensive care is important for patients with leptospirosis and pulmonary involvement.