ABSTRACT
A 48 y.o. male maintenance worker in a rat-infested building with history of tobacco and marijuana smoking, atrial fibrillation on no medications was admitted in July 2021 for fever, headache and body aches for 5 days and new onset of hemoptysis. Initial labs notable for BUN 36 mg/dl, Cr 1.4 mg/dl urine protein 100 mg/dl RBCs 5-10/hpf, platelets 46,000. total bilirubin 3.8 mg/dl direct bilirubin 3.0 SARS-CoV-PCR negative and CXR revealed patchy bilateral infiltrates. He was intubated on day 2 and had ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest on day 3 with rapid return of purposeful movement. He had worsening anemia and thrombocytopenia, positive ANA and dsDNA, leading to use of steroids and plasmapheresis on Day 6 when peak bun/cr was 91/3.1 with urine protein/cr ratio 0.7, urine microscopy 2 rbc/hpf, urine Na 20 meq/l, urine osm 775 mosm/kg and cpk 400 U/l. These tests were negative or normal: Anti-GBM, ANCA, repeat ANA, repeat dsDNA, C3, C4, HIV, RF, hepatitis C RNA, cryoglobulins, ASO titer, ADAMTS13, Pneumocystis PCR, Sputum AFB, blood, AFB and fungal cultures, viral and fungal testing, hanta virus antibodies. Leptospira antibodies IgM by Dot Blot were positive and Leptospirosis diagnosis confirmed by NYC Department of Health (DOH) after obtaining confirmatory microscopic agglutination testing from the CDC. Urine and blood Leptospira DNA PCR not detected. He remained intubated with FiO2 requirement at 100% prior to his death on hospital day 16. Initially pulmonary renal syndrome considered but he was later found to have pre-renal azotemia. The elevated bilirubin led to testing for leptospirosis, his final diagnosis. In September 2021 the NYC DOH reported 14 cases of leptospirosis (increased from 5 cases in 2020), 13 of which had acute renal and hepatic failure, with 2 having severe lung involvement (1). This case is the only one in this group who died. The leptospirosis case fatality rate for severe diffuse alveolar hemorrhage exceeds 50%. Early appropriate antibiotic treatment prior to lab confirmation has been recommended by the CDC and may decrease severity of disease.